Sabrina Diano, PhD
Dr. Diano’s research focuses on CNS (hypothalamic) mechanisms relating to the regulation of energy and glucose homeostasis. Her studies on hypothalamic inter- and intra-cellular mechanisms that regulates energy metabolism add critical information to the current understanding of the central regulation of energy and glucose homeostasis and how alterations in stored energy are sensed in the hypothalamus. The results of her research have important implications for understanding the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome, obesity and type 2 diabetes, disorders that are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S., and the developed world in general, with the highest financial burden on the National economy.
Selected Publications
- Copperi F, Kim JD, Diano S. Melanocortin Signaling Connecting Systemic Metabolism With Mood Disorders. Biol Psychiatry. 2022 May 15;91(10):879-887. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.05.026. Epub 2021 Jun 5.PMID: 34344535
- Yoon NA, Diano S. Hypothalamic glucose-sensing mechanisms. Diabetologia. 2021 May;64(5):985-993. doi: 10.1007/s00125-021-05395-6. Epub 2021 Feb 5.PMID: 33544170
- Jin S, Yoon NA, Liu ZW, Song JE, Horvath TL, Kim JD, Diano S. Drp1 is required for AgRP neuronal activity and feeding. Elife. 2021 Mar 9;10:e64351. doi: 10.7554/eLife.64351.PMID: 33689681
- Yasumoto Y, Stoiljkovic M, Kim JD, Sestan-Pesa M, Gao XB, Diano S, Horvath TL. Ucp2-dependent microglia-neuronal coupling controls ventral hippocampal circuit function and anxiety-like behavior. Mol Psychiatry. 2021 Jul;26(7):2740-2752. doi: 10.1038/s41380-021-01105-1. Epub 2021 Apr 20.PMID: 33879866
- Bruschetta G, Jin S, Liu ZW, Kim JD, Diano S. MC4R Signaling in Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Controls Feeding, Anxiety, and Depression. Cell Rep. 2020 Oct 13;33(2):108267. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108267.PMID: 33053350
- Kim JD, Yoon NA, Jin S, Diano S.Microglial UCP2 Mediates Inflammation and Obesity Induced by High-Fat Feeding. Cell Metab. 2019 Nov 5;30(5):952-962.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2019.08.010. Epub 2019 Sep 5.PMID: 31495690
- Bruschetta G, Kim JD, Diano S, Chan LF.Overexpression of melanocortin 2 receptor accessory protein 2 (MRAP2) in adult paraventricular MC4R neurons regulates energy intake and expenditure. Mol Metab. 2018 Dec;18:79-87. doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2018.09.010. Epub 2018 Oct 4.PMID: 30352741
- Bruschetta G, Jin S, Kim JD, Diano S. Prolyl carboxypeptidase in Agouti-related Peptide neurons modulates food intake and body weight. Mol Metab. 2018 Apr;10:28-38. doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2018.02.003. Epub 2018 Feb 8.PMID: 29459251
- Toda C, Santoro A, Kim JD, Diano S. POMC Neurons: From Birth to Death.
- Annu Rev Physiol. 2017 Feb 10;79:209-236. doi: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-022516-034110.PMID: 28192062
- Kim JD, Toda C, Ramírez CM, Fernández-Hernando C, Diano S. Hypothalamic Ventromedial Lin28a Enhances Glucose Metabolism in Diet-Induced Obesity. Diabetes. 2017 Aug;66(8):2102-2111. doi: 10.2337/db16-1558. Epub 2017 May 26.PMID: 28550108
- Santoro A, Campolo M, Liu C, Sesaki H, Meli R, Liu ZW, Kim JD, Diano S. DRP1 Suppresses Leptin and Glucose Sensing of POMC Neurons. Cell Metab. 2017 Mar 7;25(3):647-660. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2017.01.003. Epub 2017 Feb 9.PMID: 28190775
- Toda C, Kim JD, Impellizzeri D, Cuzzocrea S, Liu ZW, Diano S. UCP2 Regulates Mitochondrial Fission and Ventromedial Nucleus Control of Glucose Responsiveness. Cell. 2016 Feb 25;164(5):872-83. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.02.010.PMID: 26919426