Ohio State - Nationwide Children's Hospital - Research For Muscle Biology and Disease
 

 

Martha Ann Belury , Ph.D., R.D. Martha Ann Belury, Ph.D., R.D.
Professor; Carol S. Kennedy Professor of Human Nutrition

Department of Human Nutrition
The Ohio State University
1787 Neil Avenue
302 Campbell Hall
Columbus, OH  43210

Phone: (614) 292-1680
Web site at Ohio State
Email: belury.1@osu.edu

Education & Training:
University of Texas, Austin, TX in 1987, BS, Nutrition
University of Texas, Austin, TX in 1992, PhD, Biological Sciences

Research Interest:
We are interested in the study of whole body energy metabolism as regulated by interactions between adipose and muscle tissues.   Canonical mechanisms of energy metabolism involve insulin-dependent and –independent pathways in each of these tissues.  In addition, adipose secretes adipokines that regulate metabolism and inflammation in non-adipose tissues.  We seek to understand how the availability or lack of availability of energy substrates and bioactive compounds (e.g., adipokines and dietary components) modulate metabolism and tissue function of adipose and muscle.

Energy deprivation induces atrophy of muscle and adipose using some overlapping mechanisms including altered metabolism, inflammation, proteolysis and cell death-associated signals.  Our work with muscle involves identifying the steps of atrophy related to insulin-resistance, proteolysis and cell death.  We use a murine model of muscle atrophy that is induced by cancer cachexia.  In this mouse model, cachexia appears to involve early alterations of insulin-mediated metabolism and inflammation that contribute to diminished energy substrate and compromised function of skeletal muscle.

Selected Publications:

  • Purushotham A, Wendel AA, Liu, L-F, Belury MA.  Maintenance of adiponectin attenuates insulin resistance induced by dietary conjugated linoleic acid in mice.  J Lipid Res 48: 444-452, 2007
  • Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Belury MA, Porter K, Beversdorf D, Lemeshow S, Glaser R. Depressive Symptoms, n-6:n-3 Fatty Acids, and Inflammation in Older Adults.  Psychosom Med 69: 217-224 2007
  • Liu LF, Purushotham A, Wendel AA, Belury, MA.  Rosiglitazone induces adiponectin but not leptin and restores insulin sensitivity in CLA-mediated suppression of adipokines in C57Bl6J mice.  Am J Phys 292: G1671-1682, 2007
  • Wendel AA, Liu, LF, Purushotham A, Belury MA.  Conjugated linoleic acid fails to worsen insulin resistance but induces hepatic steatosis in the presence of leptin in ob/ob mice. J Lipid Res 49: 98-106, 2008
  • Purushotham A,Tian M, Belury MA. Citrus fruit flavonoid naringenin suppresses glucose output from hepatic cells. Mol Nutr Food Res 53(2):300-307, 2008
  • Liu LF, Koba  K, Purushotham A, Wendel AA, Lee K, DeIuliis J, Belury MA.  Regulation of adipose triglyceride lipase by rosiglitazone.  Diab Obes Metab, 11(2):131-42, 2009.