Epigenomics in Metabolic Health and Disease

Symposium — Tuesday, April 27, 2021 — 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM — Virtual Session, Room APS-9
Endocrinology and Metabolism Section — Chair: Zhiyong Cheng — Co-Chair: Danielle E. Levitt

The rising global prevalence of metabolic diseases, including obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, is increasing the rates of morbidity and mortality and driving health care costs. The molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic dysregulation and pathophysiology are not well understood. Recently, there has been rapid growth in the body of evidence suggesting that life style factors (e.g., diet, exercise, alcohol and substance use) can positively or negatively influence metabolism via epigenomic mechanisms. The resultant epigenomic changes may confer “molecular memory”, which can affect transgenerational metabolic health and the risk of developing metabolic diseases. This symposium will present the cutting-edge research on the epigenomic mechanisms by which diet, exercise, and alcohol use, regulate metabolism and physiological functions. Exploring epigenomic regulation acts as a prerequisite for developing therapeutic strategies for metabolic disease.

Speakers

• An Unfolding Epigenetic Catastrophe in Undernutrition
  David T. Auble — Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia Health System


• RNA Methylation and Aging
  Sreekumaran Nair — Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic


• Maternal Diet Regulates Insulin Action by Epigenetic Mechanisms
  Susan E. Ozanne — University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke’s Hospital


• Epigenomic Mechanisms of Alcohol-Induced Impaired Skeletal Muscle Function
  Liz Simon — Department of Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans