Jacques Robidoux, Ph.D.

Our work primarily embraces two areas of research:

We are investigating the autocrine/paracrine regulatory pathways that control the recruitment of new fat cells accompanying adipose tissue maintenance, remodeling and expansion in the adult.
We are studying the molecular mechanisms that coordinate angiogenesis and adipogenesis during the course of adipose tissue remodeling and expansion.

We employ a combination of pharmacological, gain- and loss-of-function as well as genetic approaches. The models we are using or developing include human and mouse preadipocytes, human and mouse adipose explants, graft of engineered preadipocytes in athymic mice, adipose tissue knockout and adipose tissue specific transgenic mice.

Adipose tissue expansion is the combined result of the enlargement of existing fat cells and the recruitment of new adipocytes through proliferation, commitment and differentiation of precursor cells. These precursor cells that include mesenchymal stem cells, preadipocytes are cued by paracrine factors likely to be released from hypertrophied adipocytes, infiltrating macrophages, endothelial cells as well as neurotransmitters from nerve endings. As the adipocyte population grows, so does the vascular bed of the tissue. This occurs principally through sprouting of existing blood vessels and to a lesser extent trough differentiation of resident or blood born progenitor cells. Irrespective of the mechanisms involved, paracrine factors released from preadipocytes, adipocytes and macrophages seem to be orchestrating this remodeling of the adipose vasculature. Reciprocally, although ill defined, sprouting capillary might play a role in the growth promotion of the adipose lineage.

A deceptively straightforward anthropomorphic definition of obesity is that it constitutes an excessive accumulation of body fat. This, and the wealth of data showing that obesity contributes to the development of cardiovascular diseases and type II diabetes, gave adipose tissue its tarnished reputation. Noteworthy, and for a constellation of reasons, lipid accumulation in visceral rather than subcutaneous adipose tissues appears to portend the deleterious metabolic consequences. However, when comparing individuals with similar adipose mass, adipocyte size seems to be the dominant underlying risk factors for the development of the dyslipidemia and insulin resistance that underlies the development of above mentioned metabolic diseases.

Paradoxically, in both human and rodent models, excess or scarcity of adipose tissue is associated with an increased risk for most of the metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. Furthermore and intriguingly, in genetically engineered rodent models, increasing adipocyte number corrects most of the deleterious effect of both adipose tissue excess and deficiency. Therefore, the seemingly heretic idea that defects in adipose tissue expansion or remodeling could be a precipitating factor to the development of the metabolic syndrome.

Altogether, this underscores that a fundamental function of adipose tissue expansion is to safeguard against the deleterious consequences of a chronic positive energy balance. At this point the underlying mechanisms patterning a beneficial subcutaneous adipose tissue expansion is elusive and could be tentatively attributed to a prevention of ectopic fat accumulation and the release of contextually beneficial adipokines. We believe that this warrants for basic research on the molecular mechanisms of adipose tissue expansion.

Preliminary results from our laboratory suggest that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) collaborates with the IGF-1 receptor to promote preadipocyte proliferation, differentiation and lipogenesis.

Selected Papers

Kumar N., Liu D., Wang H., Robidoux J., Collins S. Orphan nuclear receptor NOR-1 enhances cAMP-dependent uncoupling protein-1 gene transcription. Revised version submitted to Mol Endocrinology on 12/28/2007

Wang H., Zhang Y., Yehuda-Shnaidman E., Medvedev A.V., Kumar N., Daniel K.W., Robidoux J., Mangelsdorf D.J., Collins S. Liver X receptor is a transcriptional repressor of the uncoupling protein-1 gene and the brown adipocyte phenotype. Revised version was submitted to Mol Cell Biol on 12/18/2007

Kumar N., Robidoux J., Daniel K.W., Guzman G., Floering L., Cao W., Collins S. Requirement of vimentin filament assembly for beta3-adrenergic receptor activation of ERK MAP kinase and lipolysis. J Biol Chem. 2007 Mar 24; 282(12):9244-50

Xiong Y., Collins QF., Jie A., Lupo, E., Liu H-Y., Liu D., Robidoux J., Cao W. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase plays an inhibitory role in hepatic lipogenesis. J Biol Chem. 2007 Feb 16; 282(7):4975-4982

Robidoux J., Kumar N., Daniel K.W., Moukdar F., Medvedev A.V., Cyr, M., Collins S. Maximal β3-adrenergic regulation of lipolysis involves Src and epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent ERK1/2 activation. J Biol Chem 2006 Oct: 281(49):37794-37802

Cao W., Collins Q.F., Becker T.C., Robidoux J., Lupo E.G., Daniel K.W., Newgard C.B., Floering L., Collins S. p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase plays a stimulatory role in hepatic gluconeogenesis. J Biol Chem. 2005 Dec; 280(52):42731-42737

Robidoux J., Cao W., Quan H., Daniel K.W., Moukdar F., Bai X., Floering L.M., Collins S. Selective activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase-3 and p38a MAP kinase is essential for cyclic AMP-dependent UCP1 expression in adipocytes. Mol Cell Biol 2005 jul; 25(13): 5466-5479

Bai Y., Onuma H., Bai X., Medvedev A.V., Misukonis M., Weinberg J.B., Cao W., Robidoux J., Floering L.M., Daniel K.W., Collins S. Persistent nuclear factor-kappa B activation in UCP2-/- mice leads to enhanced nitric oxide and inflammatory cytokine production. J Biol Chem 2005 May; 280(19):19062-19069

Cao W., Daniel K.W., Robidoux J., Puigserver P., Medvedev A.V., Bai X., Floering L.M., Spiegelman B.M., Collins S. p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Is the Central Regulator of Cyclic AMP-Dependent Transcription of the Brown Fat Uncoupling Protein 1 Gene. Mol Cell Biol 2004 Apr; 24(7): 3057-3067

Medvedev A.V., Robidoux J., Bai X., Cao W., Floering L.M., Daniel K.W., Collins S. Regulation of the uncoupling protein-2 gene in INS-1 beta -cells by oleic acid. J Biol Chem 2002 Nov; 277(45):42639-42644.

Robidoux J., Simoneaux L., Masse A., Lafond J. Activation of L-type calcium channels induces corticotropin-releasing factor secretion from human placental trophoblasts. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000 Sep; 85(9):3356-3364.

Robidoux J., Simoneaux L., St-Pierre S, Masse A., Lafond J. Characterization of neuropeptide Y-mediated corticotropin-releasing factor synthesis and release from human placental trophoblasts. Endocrinology. 2000 Aug; 141(8):2795-2804.

Robidoux J., Simoneaux L., St-Pierre S, Ech-Hadli H., Lafond J. Human syncytiotrophoblast NPY receptors are located on BBM and activate PLC-to-PKC axis. Am J Physiol. 1998 Mar; 274(3 Pt 1):E502-E509.

Robidoux J., Pirouzi P., Lafond J., Savard R. Site-specific effects of sympathectomy on the adrenergic control of lipolysis in hamster fat cells. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1995 Apr; 73(4):450-458.

Book Chapters and Reviews

Collins S., Bai Y., Robidoux J. Chapter: Adipose Tissue Development and Metabolism. In Principles of Molecular Medicine. Second Edition, Humana Press. 2006

Collins S., Cao W., Robidoux J. Learning new tricks from old dogs: b-adrenergic receptors teach new lessons on firing up adipose tissue metabolism. Mol Endocrinology 2004; Sep;18(9):2123-2131

Robidoux J., Martin T.L., Collins S. b-Adrenergic Receptors and Regulation of Energy Expenditure: A Family Affair. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2004; 44: 297-323

Collins S., Martin T.L., Surwit R.S., Robidoux J. Genetic vulnerability to diet-induced obesity in the C57BL/6J mouse: physiological and molecular characteristics. 2004; Physiology and Behavior 2004 Apr;81(2): 243-8

Collins S., Cao W., Robidoux J., Daniels K. Mechanisms of βAR signaling in adipocytes and functional consequences on thermogenesis. 2003; Progress in obesity research 9: 135-138

Medvedev A.V., Robidoux J., Collins S. Molecular control of adipogenesis and obesity. The Investigational Drugs Journal. 2002 Feb; 5(2): 148-150

Laboratory Members

Name	Title	Building/Room	Phone
Bin Luo	Research Specialist	BSOM 6S-26	252-744-2738