Obesity
Adipose tissue plays a central role in regulating lipid and glucose metabolism. Obesity is characterized by the accumulation of excess lipid storage and Lipid droplets (LDs) in the adipose tissue. Hepatic LD catabolism can be accelerated by lipophagy, a form of selective autophagy[5]. By synthetically activating lipophagy, our ATL compounds can promote intrinsic breakdown of fatty lipids and thereby treat obesity.
Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is caused by impairment of the autophagic pathway in pancreatic β-cell. Autophagy plays an important
regulatory signaling pathway for diabetes, including regulation of glucose level[6]. We believe that promoting selective autophagy via our ATL compounds will provide a novel therapeutic avenue for both glucose level regulation and lipid breakdown for type 2 diabetes.
[5] Gizem Onal. et. al. Lipid Droplets in Health and Disease. Lipids in Health and Disease
[6] Pia V Röder. et al. Pancreatic regulation of glucose homeostasis. Exp Mol Med.
Sources : Trent D. Evans. et al. Target acquired: Selective autophagy in cardiometabolic disease. Sci Signal. /
Milagros Rocha. et. al. Mitochondria and T2D: Role of Autophagy, ER Stress, and Inflammasome. Trends Endocrinol Metab.