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Sander M. Houten

Bio: Sander M. Houten is an academic researcher from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The author has contributed to research in topics: Insulin resistance & Mevalonate kinase. The author has an hindex of 56, co-authored 174 publications receiving 13113 citations. Previous affiliations of Sander M. Houten include University of Amsterdam & Boston Children's Hospital.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
26 Jan 2006-Nature
TL;DR: It is shown that the administration of BAs to mice increases energy expenditure in brown adipose tissue, preventing obesity and resistance to insulin, and indicates that BAs might be able to function beyond the control of BA homeostasis as general metabolic integrators.
Abstract: While bile acids (BAs) have long been known to be essential in dietary lipid absorption and cholesterol catabolism, in recent years an important role for BAs as signalling molecules has emerged. BAs activate mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, are ligands for the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) TGR5 and activate nuclear hormone receptors such as farnesoid X receptor alpha (FXR-alpha; NR1H4). FXR-alpha regulates the enterohepatic recycling and biosynthesis of BAs by controlling the expression of genes such as the short heterodimer partner (SHP; NR0B2) that inhibits the activity of other nuclear receptors. The FXR-alpha-mediated SHP induction also underlies the downregulation of the hepatic fatty acid and triglyceride biosynthesis and very-low-density lipoprotein production mediated by sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein 1c. This indicates that BAs might be able to function beyond the control of BA homeostasis as general metabolic integrators. Here we show that the administration of BAs to mice increases energy expenditure in brown adipose tissue, preventing obesity and resistance to insulin. This novel metabolic effect of BAs is critically dependent on induction of the cyclic-AMP-dependent thyroid hormone activating enzyme type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase (D2) because it is lost in D2-/- mice. Treatment of brown adipocytes and human skeletal myocytes with BA increases D2 activity and oxygen consumption. These effects are independent of FXR-alpha, and instead are mediated by increased cAMP production that stems from the binding of BAs with the G-protein-coupled receptor TGR5. In both rodents and humans, the most thermogenically important tissues are specifically targeted by this mechanism because they coexpress D2 and TGR5. The BA-TGR5-cAMP-D2 signalling pathway is therefore a crucial mechanism for fine-tuning energy homeostasis that can be targeted to improve metabolic control.

1,852 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggest that strategies aimed at increasing FXR activity and the repressive effects of SHP should be explored to correct hypertriglyceridemia.
Abstract: We explored the effects of bile acids on triglyceride (TG) homeostasis using a combination of molecular, cellular, and animal models. Cholic acid (CA) prevents hepatic TG accumulation, VLDL secretion, and elevated serum TG in mouse models of hypertriglyceridemia. At the molecular level, CA decreases hepatic expression of SREBP-1c and its lipogenic target genes. Through the use of mouse mutants for the short heterodimer partner (SHP) and liver X receptor (LXR) alpha and beta, we demonstrate the critical dependence of the reduction of SREBP-1c expression by either natural or synthetic farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonists on both SHP and LXR alpha and LXR beta. These results suggest that strategies aimed at increasing FXR activity and the repressive effects of SHP should be explored to correct hypertriglyceridemia.

1,166 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In Inherited defects for most of the FAO enzymes have been identified and characterised and are currently included in neonatal screening programmes and will ultimately lead to better treatment.
Abstract: Over the years, the mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) pathway has been characterised at the biochemical level as well as the molecular biological level. FAO plays a pivotal role in energy homoeostasis, but it competes with glucose as the primary oxidative substrate. The mechanisms behind this so-called glucose–fatty acid cycle operate at the hormonal, transcriptional and biochemical levels. Inherited defects for most of the FAO enzymes have been identified and characterised and are currently included in neonatal screening programmes. Symptoms range from hypoketotic hypoglycaemia to skeletal and cardiac myopathies. The pathophysiology of these diseases is still not completely understood, hampering optimal treatment. Studies of patients and mouse models will contribute to our understanding of the pathogenesis and will ultimately lead to better treatment.

708 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The metabolic phenotype of mice treated with SRT1720, a specific and potent synthetic activator of SIRT1 that is devoid of direct action on AMPK that robustly enhances endurance running performance and strongly protects from diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance by enhancing oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle, liver, and brown adipose tissue is reported.

702 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Sep 2009-Obesity
TL;DR: The data suggest that altered bile acid levels and composition may contribute to improved glucose and lipid metabolism in patients who have had GB.
Abstract: The multifactorial mechanisms promoting weight loss and improved metabolism following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (GB) surgery remain incompletely understood. Recent rodent studies suggest that bile acids can mediate energy homeostasis by activating the G-protein coupled receptor TGR5 and the type 2 thyroid hormone deiodinase. Altered gastrointestinal anatomy following GB could affect enterohepatic recirculation of bile acids. We assessed whether circulating bile acid concentrations differ in patients who previously underwent GB, which might then contribute to improved metabolic homeostasis. We performed cross-sectional analysis of fasting serum bile acid composition and both fasting and post-meal metabolic variables, in three subject groups: (i) post-GB surgery (n = 9), (ii) without GB matched to preoperative BMI of the index cohort (n = 5), and (iii) without GB matched to current BMI of the index cohort (n = 10). Total serum bile acid concentrations were higher in GB (8.90 ± 4.84 µmol/l) than in both overweight (3.59 ± 1.95, P = 0.005, Ov) and severely obese (3.86 ± 1.51, P = 0.045, MOb). Bile acid subfractions taurochenodeoxycholic, taurodeoxycholic, glycocholic, glycochenodeoxycholic, and glycodeoxycholic acids were all significantly higher in GB compared to Ov (P < 0.05). Total bile acids were inversely correlated with 2-h post-meal glucose (r = −0.59, P < 0.003) and fasting triglycerides (r = −0.40, P = 0.05), and positively correlated with adiponectin (r = −0.48, P < 0.02) and peak glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) (r = 0.58, P < 0.003). Total bile acids strongly correlated inversely with thyrotropic hormone (TSH) (r = −0.57, P = 0.004). Together, our data suggest that altered bile acid levels and composition may contribute to improved glucose and lipid metabolism in patients who have had GB.

519 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
06 Jun 2013-Cell
TL;DR: Nine tentative hallmarks that represent common denominators of aging in different organisms are enumerated, with special emphasis on mammalian aging, to identify pharmaceutical targets to improve human health during aging, with minimal side effects.

9,980 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
15 Dec 2006-Cell
TL;DR: RSV's effects were associated with an induction of genes for oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial biogenesis and were largely explained by an RSV-mediated decrease in P GC-1alpha acetylation and an increase in PGC-1 alpha activity.

3,740 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
13 Sep 2012-Nature
TL;DR: Through increased knowledge of the mechanisms involved in the interactions between the microbiota and its host, the world will be in a better position to develop treatments for metabolic disease.
Abstract: The link between the microbes in the human gut and the development of obesity, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndromes, such as type 2 diabetes, is becoming clearer. However, because of the complexity of the microbial community, the functional connections are less well understood. Studies in both mice and humans are helping to show what effect the gut microbiota has on host metabolism by improving energy yield from food and modulating dietary or the host-derived compounds that alter host metabolic pathways. Through increased knowledge of the mechanisms involved in the interactions between the microbiota and its host, we will be in a better position to develop treatments for metabolic disease.

3,436 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
David E. Gordon, Gwendolyn M. Jang, Mehdi Bouhaddou, Jiewei Xu, Kirsten Obernier, Kris M. White1, Matthew J. O’Meara2, Veronica V. Rezelj3, Jeffrey Z. Guo, Danielle L. Swaney, Tia A. Tummino4, Ruth Hüttenhain, Robyn M. Kaake, Alicia L. Richards, Beril Tutuncuoglu, Helene Foussard, Jyoti Batra, Kelsey M. Haas, Maya Modak, Minkyu Kim, Paige Haas, Benjamin J. Polacco, Hannes Braberg, Jacqueline M. Fabius, Manon Eckhardt, Margaret Soucheray, Melanie J. Bennett, Merve Cakir, Michael McGregor, Qiongyu Li, Bjoern Meyer3, Ferdinand Roesch3, Thomas Vallet3, Alice Mac Kain3, Lisa Miorin1, Elena Moreno1, Zun Zar Chi Naing, Yuan Zhou, Shiming Peng4, Ying Shi, Ziyang Zhang, Wenqi Shen, Ilsa T Kirby, James E. Melnyk, John S. Chorba, Kevin Lou, Shizhong Dai, Inigo Barrio-Hernandez5, Danish Memon5, Claudia Hernandez-Armenta5, Jiankun Lyu4, Christopher J.P. Mathy, Tina Perica4, Kala Bharath Pilla4, Sai J. Ganesan4, Daniel J. Saltzberg4, Rakesh Ramachandran4, Xi Liu4, Sara Brin Rosenthal6, Lorenzo Calviello4, Srivats Venkataramanan4, Jose Liboy-Lugo4, Yizhu Lin4, Xi Ping Huang7, Yongfeng Liu7, Stephanie A. Wankowicz, Markus Bohn4, Maliheh Safari4, Fatima S. Ugur, Cassandra Koh3, Nastaran Sadat Savar3, Quang Dinh Tran3, Djoshkun Shengjuler3, Sabrina J. Fletcher3, Michael C. O’Neal, Yiming Cai, Jason C.J. Chang, David J. Broadhurst, Saker Klippsten, Phillip P. Sharp4, Nicole A. Wenzell4, Duygu Kuzuoğlu-Öztürk4, Hao-Yuan Wang4, Raphael Trenker4, Janet M. Young8, Devin A. Cavero4, Devin A. Cavero9, Joseph Hiatt9, Joseph Hiatt4, Theodore L. Roth, Ujjwal Rathore9, Ujjwal Rathore4, Advait Subramanian4, Julia Noack4, Mathieu Hubert3, Robert M. Stroud4, Alan D. Frankel4, Oren S. Rosenberg, Kliment A. Verba4, David A. Agard4, Melanie Ott, Michael Emerman8, Natalia Jura, Mark von Zastrow, Eric Verdin4, Eric Verdin10, Alan Ashworth4, Olivier Schwartz3, Christophe d'Enfert3, Shaeri Mukherjee4, Matthew P. Jacobson4, Harmit S. Malik8, Danica Galonić Fujimori, Trey Ideker6, Charles S. Craik, Stephen N. Floor4, James S. Fraser4, John D. Gross4, Andrej Sali, Bryan L. Roth7, Davide Ruggero, Jack Taunton4, Tanja Kortemme, Pedro Beltrao5, Marco Vignuzzi3, Adolfo García-Sastre, Kevan M. Shokat, Brian K. Shoichet4, Nevan J. Krogan 
30 Apr 2020-Nature
TL;DR: A human–SARS-CoV-2 protein interaction map highlights cellular processes that are hijacked by the virus and that can be targeted by existing drugs, including inhibitors of mRNA translation and predicted regulators of the sigma receptors.
Abstract: A newly described coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has infected over 2.3 million people, led to the death of more than 160,000 individuals and caused worldwide social and economic disruption1,2. There are no antiviral drugs with proven clinical efficacy for the treatment of COVID-19, nor are there any vaccines that prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2, and efforts to develop drugs and vaccines are hampered by the limited knowledge of the molecular details of how SARS-CoV-2 infects cells. Here we cloned, tagged and expressed 26 of the 29 SARS-CoV-2 proteins in human cells and identified the human proteins that physically associated with each of the SARS-CoV-2 proteins using affinity-purification mass spectrometry, identifying 332 high-confidence protein–protein interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and human proteins. Among these, we identify 66 druggable human proteins or host factors targeted by 69 compounds (of which, 29 drugs are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, 12 are in clinical trials and 28 are preclinical compounds). We screened a subset of these in multiple viral assays and found two sets of pharmacological agents that displayed antiviral activity: inhibitors of mRNA translation and predicted regulators of the sigma-1 and sigma-2 receptors. Further studies of these host-factor-targeting agents, including their combination with drugs that directly target viral enzymes, could lead to a therapeutic regimen to treat COVID-19. A human–SARS-CoV-2 protein interaction map highlights cellular processes that are hijacked by the virus and that can be targeted by existing drugs, including inhibitors of mRNA translation and predicted regulators of the sigma receptors.

3,319 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The mitochondria provide a direct link between the authors' environment and their genes and the mtDNA variants that permitted their forbears to energetically adapt to their ancestral homes are influencing their health today.
Abstract: Life is the interplay between structure and energy, yet the role of energy deficiency in human disease has been poorly explored by modern medicine. Since the mitochondria use oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to convert dietary calories into usable energy, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a toxic by-product, I hypothesize that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a central role in a wide range of age-related disorders and various forms of cancer. Because mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is present in thousands of copies per cell and encodes essential genes for energy production, I propose that the delayed-onset and progressive course of the agerelated diseases results from the accumulation of somatic mutations in the mtDNAs of post-mitotic tissues. The tissue-specific manifestations of these diseases may result from the varying energetic roles and needs of the different tissues. The variation in the individual and regional predisposition to degenerative diseases and cancer may result from the interaction of modern dietary caloric intake and ancient mitochondrial genetic polymorphisms. Therefore the mitochondria provide a direct link between our environment and our genes and the mtDNA variants that permitted our forbears to energetically adapt to their ancestral homes are influencing our health today.

3,016 citations