We are working on identifying the mechanism of fibrotic fat loss in chronic scarring/fibrosis. We use skin fibrosis and Wnt activation as a fibrotic stimulus as a model to address this question. This project is in collaboration with Dr. Valerie Horsley, Yale University.
Healthy skin schematic (left) and fibrotic skin (right). Fibrotic Fat loss in the skin precedes accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). What is the role of adipocytes and their lipids in fibrosis? (Artwork using biorender.com)
Fibrosis occurs in all soft tissues leading to loss of organ function. It is characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix protein and loss of lipid filled cells. Fibrosis affects 5% of people worldwide and nearly 40 million are affected by skin fibrosis. No therapies for existing fibrosis.
Current Research Questions:
- What is the cellular signaling and mechanism underlying fibrotic fat loss?
- How does Wnt signaling activation cause fibrotic fat loss?
- What is the contribution of lipid depletion to fibrosis?