Metabolism and Molecular Pharmacology in the Clemmensen Group

The Clemmensen Group investigates how neuroendocrine signals are involved in coordinating appetite, food-motivated behaviour, energy expenditure, glycemic control and lipid metabolism, and aims at transforming molecular and physiological insights into innovative therapeutic strategies that can correct obesity and metabolic diseases.

Research focus

The focus of the Clemmensen Group is on dissecting neuroendocrine signals involved in coordinating appetite, food-motivated behaviour, energy expenditure, glycemic control, and lipid metabolism. In parallel, we aim at transforming molecular and physiological insights into innovative therapeutic strategies that can correct obesity and its metabolic co-morbidities.

We are particularly invested in understanding how canonical satiety circuits interact with behavioural aspects of food intake, such as food reward. In context, we focus on detailing out how gut hormones modulate specific brain neurotransmitters to influence homeostatic and hedonic neurocircuits. Another major research theme revolves around understanding how environmental interventions such as cold exposure, exercise and fasting engage with neuroendocrine systems to regulate energy metabolism and metabolic health.

Main findings

“Time-resolved hypothalamic open flow micro-perfusion reveals normal leptin transport across the blood-brain barrier in leptin resistant mice”
Published in Molecular Metabolism in 2018 this study utilizes a novel cerebral Open Flow Microperfusion method to examine leptin the blood–brain barrier transport in mice, fed a chow diet or high fat diet. The findings suggest that the transport is not impaired in non-obese leptin resistant mice and thus unlikely to play a direct role in the progression of pharmacological leptin resistance.

“Molecular Integration of Incretin and Glucocorticoid Action Reverses immunometabolic Dysfunction and Obesity”
Published in Cell Metabolism in 2017 this study describes the development of a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-dexamethasone co-agonist in which GLP-1 selectively delivers dexamethasone to GLP-1 receptor-expressing cells and shows how can be it a safe and efficacious therapy option for diet-induced immunometabolic derangements and the resulting obesity.

“Gut-brain cross-talk in metabolic control”
Published in Cell in 2017 this article gives a comprehensive overview of the molecular signaling pathways through which the brain and the gastrointestinal system communicate to govern energy homeostasis and the molecular mechanisms underlying successful bariatric surgery and their potentials for stopping the obesity and type 2 diabetes pandemics.

Staff of the Clemmensen Group

Group leader: Associate Professor Christoffer Clemmensen