The role of adipose tissue in the obesity-associated metabolic risks of glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoids result in adverse metabolic effects including diabetes, NAFLD and weight gain. We have generated preliminary data suggesting that while these risks are present in lean individuals, the consequences are dramatically worse in obese individuals. This proposal aims to identify the molecular and physiological mechanisms that cause these effects by testing effects of obesity on chromatin availability and the role of adipocytes in these effects. Our goal is to identify why and in what tissues obesity causes increased metabolic risk to glucocorticoids.