Carlos Henrique Grossi Sponton

Institute of Biology  – University of Campinas

Adipose tissue and Metabolism lab

Our interested is to unveil the biology of thermogenic fat. The current focus has been to investigate the cellular and molecular aspects of brown / beige adipose tissue and its regulation of energy homeostasis. Our goal is to develop new therapeutic strategies to fight obesity and metabolic diseases. Our team is using genetic engineering (e.g CRISPR) tools, viral vectors, transgenic/KO mouse models and omics technology to unveil molecules and signaling pathways in brown and beige fat.

In 2020, our group started the activities at the Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center. Thus, we are looking for highly motivated and skilled students and postdoc to join our lab.

MAIN DISCOVERIES

Find here my recent contribution to this research field: 1) Identification of phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) as secreted protein from human brown adipose tissue that regulates lipid and glucose metabolism as well as whole-body energy expenditure; 2) Identification of a mitochondrial protein related to the transport of  branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) in brown adipocytes and its regulation energy homeostasis; 3) Characterization of a subtype of beige adipose tissue that does not rely on beta adrenergic signaling for its thermogenic activity. These adipocytes are activated by a non-canonical signaling pathway and have a high rate of glucose utilization; 4) Characterization of the mitophagy mechanism that maintains the cellular identity of beige adipocytes

MAIN ARTICLES

• SPONTON CH, HOSONO T, TAURA J, JEDRYCHOWSKI MP, YONESHIRO T, WANG Q, TAKAHASHI M, MATSUI Y, IKEDA K, OGURI Y, TAJIMA K, SHINODA K, PRADHAN RN, CHEN Y, BROWN Z, ROBERTS LS, WARD CC, TAOKA H, YOKOYAMA Y, WATANABE M, KARASAWA H, NOMURA, DK, KAJIMURA S. The regulation of glucose and lipid homeostasis via PLTP as a mediator of BAT-liver communication. EMBO reports 2020, 16:e49828. (IF 8.38).
• YONESHIRO T, TAJIMA K, WANG Q, KURODA M, MATSUSHITA M, MAKI H, IGARASHI K, IKEDA K, OGURI Y, KIM K, CHEN Y, SPONTON CH, UENO A, OHISHI M, MAJD H, GREINER VJ, YONESHIRO M, BROWN Z, CHONDRONIKOLA M, TAKAHASHI H, GOTO T, KAWADA T, SIDOSSIS L, MCMANUS MT, SAITO M, SOGA T, KAJIMURA S. BCAA catabolism in brown fat controls energy homeostasis via a mitochondrial BCAA transporter SLC25A44. Nature, 572(7771):614-619, 2019. (IF 41.57).
• LIMA TI, GUIMARÃES D, SPONTON CH, BAJGELMAN MC, PALAMETA S, TOSCARO JM, REIS O, SILVEIRA LR. Essential role of PGC-1α/PPARβ axis in Ucp3 gene induction. J Physiol, 597(16):4277-4291, 2019. (IF 4.54).
• CHEN Y, IKEDA K, YONESHIRO T, SCARAMOZZA A, TAJIMA K, WANG Q, KIM K, SHINODA K, SPONTON CH, BROWN Z, BRACK A, KAJIMURA S. Thermal stress induces glycolytic beige fat formation via a myogenic state. Nature, 2019;565(7738):180-185. (IF 41.57).
• SPONTON CH, KAJIMURA S. AAV-mediated gene therapy as a strategy to fight obesity and metabolic diseases. EMBO Mol Med. 2018;10(8). pii: e9431. (IF 10.29).
• SPONTON CH, KAJIMURA S. Multifaceted Roles of Beige Fat in Energy Homeostasis Beyond UCP1. Endocrinology. 2018;159(7):2545-2553. (IF 3.96).
• LU X, ALTSHULER-KEYLIN S, WANG Q, CHEN Y, SPONTON CH, IKEDA K, MARETICH P, YONESHIRO T, KAJIMURA S. Mitophagy controls beige adipocyte maintenance through a Parkin-dependent and UCP1-independent mechanism. Sci Signal. 2018;11(527). pii: eaap8526. (IF 6.37).
• SPONTON CH, KAJIMURA S. Burning Fat and Building Bone by FSH Blockade. Cell Metab. 2017;26(2):285-287. (IF 20.56)