Sorci-Thomas Laboratory
Location
Endocrinology and Molecular Medicine
General Interests
Lipid Metabolism, Atherosclerosis, Obesity, Adipocyte Biology
View Mary G. Sorci-Thomas, PhD BioResearch Areas
Two projects are currently ongoing in Dr. Sorci-Thomas’ lab, both involve the protein PCPE2, or procollagen endopeptidase enhancer 2.
The first of these project examines the role of this novel protein, PCPE2 in regulating adipose tissue expansion during Western diet consumption. To do this an inducible adipocyte specific PCPE2 knockout mouse model was developed to study how the extracellular matrix protein participates in lipid uptake and efflux related to lipid storage. What we have found is that in the absence of adipocyte PCPE2, mice demonstrate reduced body weight, smaller fat stores, improved glucose tolerance and delayed postprandial lipid clearance, thus rendering them resistant to dietary fat-induced obesity and glucose intolerance. Future studies will focus on the molecular mechanism involved in PCPE2’s influence on lipid storage.
The second ongoing project in Dr. Sorci-Thomas’ lab focuses on a new and exciting concept of targeting inflammation to treat residual cardiovascular risk. Prior approaches have aimed at reducing inflammation by neutralizing the cytokine IL-1beta. Although this approach lowered CVD events, it also had serious side effects. In contrast, the new approach is aimed at increasing the function of “protective” circulating monocytes, termed, nonclassical monocytes (NCM). NCM make up ~10% of monocytes in blood and express 100-fold more scavenger receptor CD36 on their surface than classical monocytes. Traditionally monocytes have been viewed as simple precursors of macrophages which infiltrate the artery wall and contribute to foam cell burden in atherosclerotic plaque. But NCM are clearly distinct since once activated via CD36, they surveil and protect the luminal side of the vascular endothelium. NCM bind and crawl along the artery removing damaged endothelium and/or oxidized LDL (oxLDL) along their path. Thus, these studies will focus on stabilizing CD36 on NCM plasma membrane using a relatively understudied extracellular scaffold protein, procollagen endo-peptidase enhancer 2 (PCPE2).
Current Members
Ms. Hao Xu, PhD
Lab Manager
Recent Publications
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(Singh B, Kosuru R, Lakshmikanthan S, Sorci-Thomas M, Zhang D, Sparapani R, Vasquez-Vivar J, Chrzanowska M.) Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2020 Dec 03:ATVBAHA120315401 PMID: 33267664 12/04/2020
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Linking Lipid-Related Transcription and Cardiovascular Disease Through GWAS.
(Thomas MJ, Sorci-Thomas MG.) Circ Res. 2020 Nov 06;127(11):1362-1364 PMID: 33151796 PMCID: PMC7653958 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85095758046 11/06/2020
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(Ouweneel AB, Thomas MJ, Sorci-Thomas MG.) J Lipid Res. 2020 05;61(5):676-686 PMID: 31888980 PMCID: PMC7193959 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85084961109 01/01/2020
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(Li Z, Votava JA, Zajac GJM, Nguyen JN, Leyva Jaimes FB, Ly SM, Brinkman JA, De Giorgi M, Kaul S, Green CL, St Clair SL, Belisle SL, Rios JM, Nelson DW, Sorci-Thomas MG, Lagor WR, Lamming DW, Eric Yen CL, Parks BW.) Cell Metab. 2020 04 07;31(4):741-754.e5 PMID: 32197071 PMCID: PMC7184639 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85082744030 03/21/2020
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Proceedings of the Ninth HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) Workshop: Focus on Cardiovascular Disease.
(Rodriguez A, Trigatti BL, Mineo C, Knaack D, Wilkins JT, Sahoo D, Asztalos BF, Mora S, Cuchel M, Pownall HJ, Rosales C, Bernatchez P, Ribeiro Martins da Silva A, Getz GS, Barber JL, Shearer GC, Zivkovic AM, Tietge UJF, Sacks FM, Connelly MA, Oda MN, Davidson WS, Sorci-Thomas MG, Vaisar T, Ruotolo G, Vickers KC, Martel C.) Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2019 12;39(12):2457-2467 PMID: 31597448 PMCID: PMC6937204 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85075813183 10/11/2019
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(Ossoli A, Simonelli S, Varrenti M, Morici N, Oliva F, Stucchi M, Gomaraschi M, Strazzella A, Arnaboldi L, Thomas MJ, Sorci-Thomas MG, Corsini A, Veglia F, Franceschini G, Karathanasis SK, Calabresi L.) Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2019 05;39(5):915-924 PMID: 30894011 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85065216772 03/22/2019
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Interleukin-17 Drives Interstitial Entrapment of Tissue Lipoproteins in Experimental Psoriasis.
(Huang LH, Zinselmeyer BH, Chang CH, Saunders BT, Elvington A, Baba O, Broekelmann TJ, Qi L, Rueve JS, Swartz MA, Kim BS, Mecham RP, Wiig H, Thomas MJ, Sorci-Thomas MG, Randolph GJ.) Cell Metab. 2019 02 05;29(2):475-487.e7 PMID: 30415924 PMCID: PMC6365189 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85060717940 11/13/2018
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(Favari E, Thomas MJ, Sorci-Thomas MG.) J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2018 06;71(6):325-331 PMID: 29528874 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85051788295 03/13/2018
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Apolipoprotein AI prevents regulatory to follicular helper T cell switching during atherosclerosis.
(Gaddis DE, Padgett LE, Wu R, McSkimming C, Romines V, Taylor AM, McNamara CA, Kronenberg M, Crotty S, Thomas MJ, Sorci-Thomas MG, Hedrick CC.) Nat Commun. 2018 03 15;9(1):1095 PMID: 29545616 PMCID: PMC5854619 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85044288848 03/17/2018
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A consensus model of human apolipoprotein A-I in its monomeric and lipid-free state.
(Melchior JT, Walker RG, Cooke AL, Morris J, Castleberry M, Thompson TB, Jones MK, Song HD, Rye KA, Oda MN, Sorci-Thomas MG, Thomas MJ, Heinecke JW, Mei X, Atkinson D, Segrest JP, Lund-Katz S, Phillips MC, Davidson WS.) Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2017 Dec;24(12):1093-1099 PMID: 29131142 PMCID: PMC5749415 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85039561595 11/14/2017
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Apolipoprotein A-I Modulates Atherosclerosis Through Lymphatic Vessel-Dependent Mechanisms in Mice.
(Milasan A, Jean G, Dallaire F, Tardif JC, Merhi Y, Sorci-Thomas M, Martel C.) J Am Heart Assoc. 2017 Sep 22;6(9) PMID: 28939717 PMCID: PMC5634311 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85047906536 09/25/2017
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Thermoneutrality but Not UCP1 Deficiency Suppresses Monocyte Mobilization Into Blood.
(Williams JW, Elvington A, Ivanov S, Kessler S, Luehmann H, Baba O, Saunders BT, Kim KW, Johnson MW, Craft CS, Choi JH, Sorci-Thomas MG, Zinselmeyer BH, Brestoff JR, Liu Y, Randolph GJ.) Circ Res. 2017 Sep 01;121(6):662-676 PMID: 28696252 PMCID: PMC5718914 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85023200643 07/12/2017