Recurrent hypoglycaemia-induced glial adaptations

This project is currently being led by Dr. Paul Weightman Potter as a JDRF funded postdoctoral fellow. The project focuses on the impact of recurrent hypoglycaemia on nutrient production from and usage by astrocytes and neurons. The translational goal of this project is to establish whether manipulation of brain metabolism can be used to improve awareness of hypoglycaemia and effective glucose counterregulation. Other projects include how the astrocyte-neuron glutamate-glutamine cycle is affected by recurrent hypoglycaemia, and how astrocytes sense changes in nutrient status. More broadly this fits into understanding the role of glial cells in brain metabolism and their roles in health and disease.

By Paul Weightman Potter. Others and our own previous work shows astrocytes react to low glucose. We also know astrocytes metabolically adapt to recurrent low glucose. The question remains, how does this affect astrocyte function, and hypoglcyaemia detection?

Publications

Weightman Potter PG, Vlachaki Walker JM, Robb JL, Chilton JK, Williamson R, Randall AD, Ellacott KLJ, Beall C. Basal fatty acid oxidation increases after recurrent low glucose in human primary astrocytes. Diabetologia. 2019 Jan;62(1):187-198. doi: 10.1007/s00125-018-4744-6.

P.G. Weightman Potter., S. Washer., A.R. Jeffries., J.E. Holley., N.J. Gutowski., E.L. Dempster & C. Beall. Attenuated Induction of the Unfolded Protein Response In Adult Human Primary Astrocytes in Response to Recurrent Low Glucose. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2021) 12

Weightman Potter PG, Randall AD, Ellacott KLJ, Beall C. Rat primary hypothalamic, but not cortical, astrocytes increase use of glutamate to fuel metabolism after recurrent low glucose. Endocrine Abstracts (2021) 77 P182