Research in the Soleimanpour Lab
Soleimanpour Lab Overview
Our lab is primarily focused on the control of pancreatic islet beta cell function in diabetes by all aspects of the mitochondrial life cycle.
All forms of diabetes share the common etiology of insufficient insulin release from pancreatic islet beta cells to meet peripheral insulin demand. Beta cells require mitochondrial function in order to maintain proper glucose stimulated insulin release.
Our lab is primarily focused on the control of pancreatic islet beta cell function in diabetes by all aspects of the mitochondrial life cycle: biogenesis, dynamics, and mitophagy.
We utilize genetic mouse models, in vivo mitochondrial biosensors, high resolution imaging, flow cytometry, high throughput sequencing technologies, as well as human islet model systems and ES-derived beta cells to conduct our studies. All projects have a translational link, and we strive to use human islets from donors with diabetes whenever possible.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the most common forms of the disease, share the common pathology of dysfunctional insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. Despite their roles in energy production in beta cells and other metabolic tissues, how abnormal mitochondria contribute to diabetes remains unclear. In the Soleimanpour lab, we focus on how mitochondrial quality control (including mitochondrial biogenesis, genome integrity, dynamics, mitophagy, and proteostasis) is essential for the upkeep of healthy mitochondria and the elimination of sick, damaged, or aged mitochondria for the maintenance of beta cell health, function, and fate in both T1D and T2D.
In recent work in the lab, we have discovered that impaired mitochondrial quality control engages a retrograde (mitonuclear) transcriptional response that alters the identity and fate of metabolic tissues. We are also interested in understanding the mechanisms of how these signaling circuits control beta cells and other metabolic tissues.
Dr. Scott Soleimanpour discusses embryonic stem cell research on NBC Nightly News in March 2009.
