People / Graduate Students

Sarah Teillon

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the family of neurotrophins and signals primarily by binding the TrkB receptor to mediate neuronal survival, differentiation, and plasticity.  Both BDNF and TrkB are expressed in the hypothalamus and dorsal vagal complex (DVC), which are regions of the brain involved in the regulation of energy and glucose homeostasis.  In the periphery, metabolic organs impacting energy balance and circulating levels of glucose, such as the liver, also contain BDNF.  Recently, central BDNF was shown to be a critical constituent of the mechanisms regulating food intake and body weight.  Less is known about its role outside the brain.  My research focuses on ascertaining the cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating the actions of BDNF in the brain and the liver.  For this, I am investigating the effect of caloric signals on TrkB receptor expression, localization and activation.  I also plan to identify the key molecular mechanisms facilitating the satiety effects of hypothalamic-derived BDNF using GeneChip Mouse Genome arrays (Affymatrix).  Finally, to assess the role of this neurotrophin in hepatic function, I am characterizing a new line of mutants with selective depletion of BDNF in the liver.