This talk will discuss the biological implications that perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) has on vascular function and cardiovascular disease. Specifically, the Watts lab has demonstrated that PVAT plays a critical role in mediating sympathetic adrenergic tone of the vascular system through regulation of vasoconstrictive catecholamine signaling. The differential regulation of PVAT by obesity and its impact on hypertension will also be discussed.

The Tranter lab is interested in how regulation of metabolic homeostasis within adipose tissue impacts cardiovascular disease. The lab has recently shown that HuR mediates both pathological cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in the heart, as well as thermogenic metabolism in brown adipose tissue. This talk will introduce new data demonstrating that disruption of HuR-dependent signaling specifically within adipose tissue leads to impaired cardiac function.

The Bauer lab studies the protein Tribbles-1 (TRIB1), which has been identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) as significantly associated with plasma lipoprotein traits, circulating adiponectin, and coronary artery disease (CAD) in humans. Work presented will demonstrate how adipocyte-specific TRIB1 mediates lipoprotein metabolism and adiponectin secretion, and what the functional consequences are of the common variation identified by GWAS. This talk will discuss both novel functions of this protein and of adipose tissue in regulating lipoprotein metabolism, as well as the implications of this work for our understanding of CAD and dyslipidemia.

The overall focus of the Stanford lab is to determine the novel molecular mechanisms of exercise that improve metabolic health, including exercise-induced adaptations to white and brown adipose tissue. Circulating factors released from tissues during exercise have been hypothesized to mediate some of the health benefits of regular physical activity. The Stanford lab has recently identified 12,13-diHOME as an exercise-induced lipokine secreted by brown adipose tissue that increases skeletal muscle fatty acid uptake. The focus of this talk will be 12,13-diHOME from brown adipose tissue impacts cardiovascular health.