SCHERER Thomas, M.D.

E-Mail: thomas.scherer@meduniwien.ac.at

Research Interests: Brain Control of Energy Metabolism, Insulin Resistance, Appetite Regulation, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Lipid Metabolism

Our lab is interested in understanding how hormones and nutrients are detected by the brain and how these metabolic signals are integrated in the CNS. Our research especially focuses on hormonal feedback mechanisms (i.e. insulin and leptin) that affect energy metabolism via modulation of autonomic nervous system outputs to organs, such as the liver, muscle, white and brown adipose tissue. Since the brain is able to communicate with several metabolic organs simultaneously via its neuronal connections, we are interested in elucidating novel neuronal regulatory pathways necessary to orchestrate glucose and lipid metabolism in selective metabolic states, such as high calorie feeding, insulin resistance, obesity and diabetes. New insights into the inter-organ crosstalk between the brain and the periphery under physiologic conditions and during disease likely provide novel drug targets to fight obesity and obesity-related comorbidities, like diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, we strive to translate our findings from basic research into the clinics in order to advance patient care in human metabolic disease.

Methods & Techniques

Metabolic phenotyping in rodents (including clamp studies); stereotaxic infusion experiments; tracer dilution techniques, protein chemistry; qPCR; immunoassays; lipid profiling; translational studies in humans

Selected Publications

Scherer T., O’Hare J, Diggs-Andrews K, Schweiger M, Cheng B, Lindtner, C., Zielinski, E, Vempati, P, Su, K, Dighe S, Milsom T, Puchowicz M, Scheja L, Zechner R, Fisher SJ, Previs SF, Buettner C. Brain insulin controls adipose tissue lipolysis and lipogenesis.  Cell Metab 13: 183-194, 2011

Scherer T, Buettner C. Yin and Yang of hypothalamic insulin and leptin signaling in regulating white adipose tissue metabolism. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 12: 235-43, 2011

T Scherer, C Lindtner, E Zielinski, J O’Hare, N Filatova, C Buettner. Short–term voluntary overfeeding disrupts brain insulin control of liver and adipose tissue function. J Biol Chem 287: 33061-33069, 2012

T Scherer#, KA Iwen#, M Heni, F Sayk,T Wellnitz, F Machleidt, H Preissl, HU Haering, A Fritsche, H Lehnert, M Hallschmid#, C Buettner#. Intranasal insulin administration suppresses systemic but not subcutaneous lipolysis in healthy humans.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab 99: E246-E251, 2014 (# equal contribution)

T Scherer, H Lehnert, M Hallschmid. Brain insulin and leptin signaling in metabolic control: from animal research to clinical application. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 42: 109-125, 2013

T Scherer#, L Eissing#, K Toedter, U Knippschild, JW Greve, W Buurman, HO Pinnschmidt, S Rensen, AM Wolf, A Bartelt, J Heeren, C Buettner, L Scheja. De novo lipogenesis in human fat and liver is linked to ChREBP-β and metabolic health. Nat Commun 4: 1528, 2013 (# equal contribution)

Scherer T, Wolf P, Winhofer Y, Duan H, Einwallner E, Gessl A, Luger A, Trattnig S, Hoffmann M, Niessner A, Baumgartner-Parzer S, Krššák M, Krebs M.  Levothyroxine replacement in hypothyroid humans reduces myocardial lipid load and improves cardiac function. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 99: E2341-2346, 2014