Biology subjects

Kulterer, O. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Kulterer, O. C..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Amygdala metabolic activity on FDG PET is associated with survival, response to immune checkpoint inhibition, and tumor immune signaling in non-small cell lung cancer

Amygdala metabolic activity (AmygAc) measured by [18F]FDG PET has been associated with chronic psychological stress and adverse clinical outcomes, but its relationship with antitumor immunity and treatment response remains incompletely understood. We investigated AmygAc as a host-derived imaging biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and examined its association with survival, response to immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI), and the tumor immune microenvironment. Methods: In this multicenter retrospective study, baseline [18F]FDG PET scans from 256 treatment-naive patients with NSCLC were analyzed to quantify AmygAc. Overall survival was assessed in the full cohort, and treatment response was evaluated in 79 patients who subsequently received neoadjuvant ICI therapy. AmygAc was integrated with clinical and tumor-derived imaging parameters. To investigate its biological correlates, tumor tissue from a selected subcohort was analyzed using multiplex immunofluorescence and spatial transcriptomics.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Cold-mediated regulation of systemic retinol transport controls adipose tissue browning

Browning of white fat reduces obesity in many preclinical models. Vitamin A metabolites (retinoids) have been linked to thermogenic programming of adipose tissue (AT), however the physiologic importance of systemic retinoid metabolism for AT browning is unknown. Here we show that cold stimulation in mice and humans increases circulating retinol and its plasma transporter, retinol binding protein (RBP). Cold exposure shifts retinol abundance from liver towards subcutaneous white AT which correlates with enhanced thermogenic gene transcription. Cold-mediated retinoid flux is abrogated in Rbp deficient (Rbp-/-) mice and AT browning is dramatically impaired, which renders Rbp-/- mice cold intolerant. Rbp deficiency attenuates cold-induced lipid clearance due to decreased oxidative capacity. In humans, cold-mediated retinol increase is associated with enhanced lipid utilization. Retinol stimulation in primary human adipocytes promotes thermogenic gene expression and mitochondrial respiration. In conclusion, coordinated retinol delivery is essential for cold-induced thermogenic programming of white fat.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Cold exposure distinctively modulates parathyroid and thyroid hormones in cold-acclimatized and non-acclimatized humans

ContextCold-induced activation of thermogenesis modulates energy metabolism, but the role of humoral mediators is not completely understood. ObjectiveTo investigate the role of parathyroid and thyroid hormones in acute and adaptive response to cold in humans. DesignCross-sectional study examining acute response to ice-water swimming and to experimental non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) induction in individuals acclimatized and non-acclimatized to cold. Seasonal variation in energy metabolism of ice-water swimmers and associations between circulating PTH and molecular components of thermogenic program in brown adipose tissue (BAT) of neck-surgery patients were evaluated. SettingClinical Research Center. Patients, ParticipantsIce-water swimmers (winter swim n=15, NST-induction n=6), non-acclimatized volunteers (NST-induction, n=11, elective neck surgery n = 36). Main Outcomes and ResultsIn ice-water swimmers, PTH and TSH increased in response to 15min winter swim, while activation of NST failed to regulate PTH and lowered TSH. In non-acclimatized men, NST-induction decreased PTH and TSH. Positive correlation between systemic levels of PTH and whole-body metabolic preference for lipids as well as BAT 18F-FDG uptake was found across the two populations. Moreover, NST-cooling protocol-induced changes in metabolic preference for lipids correlated positively with changes in PTH. Finally, variability in circulating PTH correlated positively with UCP1/UCP1, PPARGC1A and DIO2 in BAT from neck surgery patients. ConclusionsRegulation of PTH and thyroid hormones during cold exposure in humans depends on the cold acclimatization level and/or cold stimulus intensity. Role of PTH in NST is substantiated by its positive relationships with whole-body metabolic preference for lipids, BAT volume and UCP1 content.

physiology↗