Dr Nigel Hoggard - Endocrine and physiological role of factors secreted by adipose tissue
Research Focus
The group’s research interests are in the mechanisms involved in the regulation of energy balance and body weight, and to determine how dysregulation leads to obesity and its associated pathologies. In particular we study the endocrine and physiological role of factors secreted by adipose tissue. A combination of in vivo and cell culture approaches is employed, integrating molecular and protein techniques into whole-organism physiology.
In particular we are interested in dietary strategies for alleviating the metabolic complications such as type 2 diabetes associated with obesity as alternatives to pharmaceutical interventions.
The genus Vaccinium (e.g. blueberry, blaeberry), has been used traditionally as a source of folk remedies for established diabetic symptoms. Berries from this family such as blueberries and blaeberries are enriched in polyphenolics recognized for their ability to provide cellular antioxidant protection, inhibit inflammatory genes, and consequently protect against oxidant-induced and inflammatory cell damage and cytotoxicity. The association of obesity with the expression of genes in the fat which cause a low level of inflammation in this tissue suggests that eating edible berries from this genus might provide a supplementary intervention to reduce this obesity- associated inflammation and the associated insulin resistance which this low level of inflammation may be causing.
Policy Briefings
Latest Publications
N. Hoggard, M. Cruickshank, K-M. Moar, S. Bashir, and C-D. Mayer. 2012 Using gene expression to predict differences in the secretome of human omental vs subcutaneous adipose tissue. Obesity: Jan 2012 [Epub ahead of print]
Padidar S, Farquharson AJ, Williams LM, Kelaiditi E, Hoggard N, Arthur JR, Drew JE 2011 Leptin up-regulates pro-inflammatory cytokines in discrete cells within mouse colon. J Cell Physiol. 2011 Aug;226(8):2123-30.
Padidar S, Farquharson AJ, Williams LM, Hoggard N, Reid MD, Duncan GJ, Drew JE. 2011 Impact of obesity and leptin on protein expression profiles in mouse colon. Dig Dis Sci. 2011 Apr;56(4):1028-36
FM. Campbell, PF. Nicol, F. Nicol, MD. Reid, L.Cantlay, K-M. Moar, M. Cruikshank, N. Hoggard. 2012 Decrease in plasma protein markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in overweight/obese type 2 diabetics after supplementation with bilberry extract. Obesity Reviews, submitted.
N. Hoggard, M. Cruickshank, and K-M. Moar 2012 The anti-inflammatory secretary leukocyte peptidase inhibitor (SLPI) increases in the circulation and in adipose tissue with obesity and diabetes. Obesity Reviews, submitted.
Hoggard N, Cruickshank M, Moar KM, Bashir S & Mayer CD 2011 Using gene expression to predict differences in the secretome of omental vs subcutaneous adipose tissue. Journal of Diabetes, 3 s1 50.
L.M. Williams, F. Nicol, C. Grant, A.C. Morris, M. Reid, P. Nicol, C. Koch N. Hoggard, A.Tups, F.M.Campbell 2011 ‘Proteomics reveals that a high-fat diet induces rapid changes in hypothalamic proteins related to neuronal damage and inflammation’. Nutrition Society Winter Meeting, London In press.
F.M. Campbell, N Hoggard, S.P. Robins 2011 Identification of Plasma Protein Markers of Oxidation in Obese Men. Biochem. Society meeting 2011. (http://www.biochemistry.org/Conferences/AllConferences/tabid/379/View/Posters/MeetingNo/SA110/Default.aspx)
F Campbell, J. Drew, A. Tups, N Hoggard, P F. Nicol, A.J. Farquharson, C. Koch, C. Grant, A.C. Morris, L.M. Williams 2011 High-fat diet in C57Bl/6 mice induces a rapid decrease in insulin sensitivity and an acute phase response Endorcine Reviews 32, Issue 03..