# positions[].organizations[].parent[].label
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

# overview
Dr. Sun is an expert on "hunger hormone" ghrelin. She generated the first set of ghrelin and ghrelin receptor knockout mice, and discovered novel roles of ghrelin signaling in diabetes, thermogenesis, and inflammation. Her laboratory uses state-of-the-art tools to study ghrelin system in energy sensing, metabolism and immunity, and aging. Her work suggests that ghrelin signal might be a promising drug target for obesity, diabetes, inflammation, and Alzheimer's disease.

# keywords[]
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

# keywords[]
Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1

# keywords[]
Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins

# keywords[]
Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 1

# keywords[]
Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor (ghs-r)

# keywords[]
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

# keywords[]
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

# keywords[]
Mechanistic Target Of Rapamycin Complex 2

# keywords[]
Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor (ghs-r)

# keywords[]
Intercellular Signaling Peptides And Proteins

# keywords[]
Intracellular Signaling Peptides And Proteins

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
University of Manitoba - (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)

# awardsAndHonors[].label
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean's Outstanding Achievement Award

# publications[].label
Suppression of Ghrelin Exacerbates HFCS-Induced Adiposity and Insulin Resistance.

# publications[].label
Deletion of ghrelin impairs neither growth nor appetite.

# publications[].label
Mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width and carcinoembryonic antigen to discriminate gastric cancer from gastric ulcer.

# publications[].label
A Novel Automated System Yields Reproducible Temporal Feeding Patterns in Laboratory Rodents.

# publications[].label
Ablation of ghrelin receptor reduces adiposity and improves insulin sensitivity during aging by regulating fat metabolism in white and brown adipose tissues.

# publications[].label
Reduction in hypophyseal growth hormone and prolactin expression due to deficiency in ghrelin receptor signaling is associated with Pit-1 suppression: relevance to the immune system.

# publications[].label
A Murine Pancreatic Islet Cell-based Screening for Diabetogenic Environmental Chemicals.

# publications[].label
Deletion of G-protein-coupled receptor 55 promotes obesity by reducing physical activity.

# publications[].label
Gallotannin derivatives from mango (Mangifera indica L.) suppress adipogenesis and increase thermogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in part through the AMPK pathway

# publications[].label
Genetic manipulation of the ghrelin signaling system in male mice reveals bone compartment specificity of acylated and unacylated ghrelin in the regulation of bone remodeling.

# publications[].label
Huperzine A ameliorates obesity-related cognitive performance impairments involving neuronal insulin signaling pathway in mice.

# publications[].label
Ghrelin: much more than a hunger hormone.

# publications[].label
Growth hormone corrects proliferation and transcription of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in livers of old mice via elimination of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha-Brm complex.

# publications[].label
Phosphorylation of Forkhead Protein FoxO1 at S253 Regulates Glucose Homeostasis in Mice.

# publications[].label
The preproghrelin gene is required for the normal integration of thermoregulation and sleep in mice.

# publications[].publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

# publications[].label
Rat placental lactogen II gene: characterization of gene structure and placental-specific expression.

# publications[].label
Bis-Indole-Derived NR4A1 Ligands and Metformin Exhibit NR4A1-Dependent Glucose Metabolism and Uptake in C2C12 Cells.

# publications[].label
Ghrelin receptors mediate ghrelin-induced excitation of agouti-related protein/neuropeptide Y but not pro-opiomelanocortin neurons.

# publications[].label
Estrogen Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Suppresses Gluconeogenesis via the Transcription Factor Foxo1.

# publications[].label
Thermogenic characterization of ghrelin receptor null mice.

# publications[].label
Acute But Not Chronic Calorie Restriction Defends against Stress-Related Anxiety and Despair in a GHS-R1a-Dependent Manner.

# publications[].label
aP2-Cre Mediated Ablation of GHS-R Attenuates Adiposity and Improves Insulin Sensitivity during Aging.

# publications[].label
Shift work cycle-induced alterations of circadian rhythms potentiate the effects of high-fat diet on inflammation and metabolism.

# publications[].label
Nobiletin fortifies mitochondrial respiration in skeletal muscle to promote healthy aging against metabolic challenge.

# publications[].label
Molecular endocrinology and physiology of the aging central nervous system.

# publications[].label
Elevated mean platelet volume predicts poor prognosis in colorectal cancer.

# publications[].label
Ablation of ghrelin improves the diabetic but not obese phenotype of ob/ob mice.

# publications[].label
Developments in ghrelin biology and potential clinical relevance.

# publications[].label
Ghrelin receptor in agouti-related peptide neurones regulates metabolic adaptation to calorie restriction.

# publications[].label
Restricted feeding-induced sleep, activity, and body temperature changes in normal and preproghrelin-deficient mice.

# publications[].label
Reduced prealbumin is associated with bone mineral density in women with osteoporosis.

# publications[].label
Ghrelin receptor regulates adipose tissue inflammation in aging.

# publications[].label
Calorie restriction activates new adult born olfactory-bulb neurones in a ghrelin-dependent manner but acyl-ghrelin does not enhance subventricular zone neurogenesis.

# publications[].label
Ghrelin promotes thymopoiesis during aging.

# publications[].publisher
American Society for Clinical Investigation

# publications[].label
Increased food intake leads to obesity and insulin resistance in the tg2576 Alzheimer's disease mouse model.

# publications[].label
Characterization of adult ghrelin and ghrelin receptor knockout mice under positive and negative energy balance.

# publications[].label
An age-dependent interaction with leptin unmasks ghrelin's bone-protective effects.

# publications[].label
A Simple High Efficiency Protocol for Pancreatic Islet Isolation from Mice.

# publications[].label
Postprandial inhibition of gastric ghrelin secretion by long-chain fatty acid through GPR120 in isolated gastric ghrelin cells and mice.

# publications[].label
Growth hormone secretagogues: prospects and potential pitfalls.

# publications[].label
Cyclin D3 maintains growth-inhibitory activity of C/EBPalpha by stabilizing C/EBPalpha-cdk2 and C/EBPalpha-Brm complexes.

# publications[].label
Ghrelin stimulation of growth hormone release and appetite is mediated through the growth hormone secretagogue receptor.

# publications[].publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

# publications[].label
Novel Mechanism of Foxo1 Phosphorylation in Glucagon Signaling in Control of Glucose Homeostasis.

# publications[].label
Unacylated ghrelin rapidly modulates lipogenic and insulin signaling pathway gene expression in metabolically active tissues of GHSR deleted mice.

# publications[].label
Ablations of ghrelin and ghrelin receptor exhibit differential metabolic phenotypes and thermogenic capacity during aging.

# publications[].label
Abnormal response to the anorexic effect of GHS-R inhibitors and exenatide in male Snord116 deletion mouse model for Prader-Willi syndrome.

# publications[].label
Ghrelin receptor regulates appetite and satiety during aging in mice by regulating meal frequency and portion size but not total food intake.

# publications[].label
Ghrelin receptor controls obesity by fat burning.

# publications[].label
Ghrelin is produced in taste cells and ghrelin receptor null mice show reduced taste responsivity to salty (NaCl) and sour (citric acid) tastants.

# publications[].label
Obestatin stimulates glucose-induced insulin secretion through ghrelin receptor GHS-R.

# publications[].label
Acylated and unacylated ghrelin impair skeletal muscle atrophy in mice.

# publications[].publisher
American Society for Clinical Investigation

# publications[].label
Ghrelin and growth hormone secretagogue receptor expression in mice during aging.

# publications[].label
In vitro and in silico elucidation of antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities of bioactive compounds from Momordica charantia L.

# publications[].label
Adipocyte expression of PU.1 transcription factor causes insulin resistance through upregulation of inflammatory cytokine gene expression and ROS production.

# publications[].label
Neuronal Deletion of Ghrelin Receptor Almost Completely Prevents Diet-Induced Obesity.

# publications[].label
Bone mineral density is associated with left ventricular diastolic function in women.

# publications[].label
Ablation of ghrelin receptor in leptin-deficient ob/ob mice has paradoxical effects on glucose homeostasis when compared with ablation of ghrelin in ob/ob mice.

# publications[].label
Central and peripheral roles of ghrelin on glucose homeostasis.

# publications[].label
1,3,6,7-Tetrahydroxy-8-prenylxanthone ameliorates inflammatory responses resulting from the paracrine interaction of adipocytes and macrophages.

# publications[].label
Suppression of GHS-R in AgRP Neurons Mitigates Diet-Induced Obesity by Activating Thermogenesis.

# publications[].label
Adiponectin is required for maintaining normal body temperature in a cold environment.

# publications[].label
The suppression of ghrelin signaling mitigates ageassociated thermogenic impairment.

# publications[].label
Physiological roles revealed by ghrelin and ghrelin receptor deficient mice.

# publications[].label
Deficient ghrelin receptor-mediated signaling compromises thymic stromal cell microenvironment by accelerating thymic adiposity.

# publications[].label
Beclin-1-Dependent Autophagy Protects the Heart During Sepsis.

# publications[].label
Severe Nephrotoxic Nephritis following Conditional and Kidney-Specific Knockdown of Stanniocalcin-1.

# publications[].label
Spontaneous sleep and homeostatic sleep regulation in ghrelin knockout mice.

# publications[].label
Des-acyl ghrelin induces food intake by a mechanism independent of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor.

# publications[].label
Glucagon regulates hepatic mitochondrial function and biogenesis through FOXO1.

# publications[].label
Axin expression in thymic stromal cells contributes to an age-related increase in thymic adiposity and is associated with reduced thymopoiesis independently of ghrelin signaling.

# publications[].label
Ghrelin Signaling in Immunometabolism and Inflamm-Aging.

# publications[].label
Megalin mediates plasma membrane to mitochondria cross-talk and regulates mitochondrial metabolism.

# publications[].label
Cucurbitane-type compounds from Momordica charantia: Isolation, in vitro antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory activities and in silico modeling approaches.

# publications[].label
The effects of epidermal growth factor/transforming growth factor alpha on the expression of placental lactogen I and II mRNAs in a rat choriocarcinoma cell line.

# publications[].label
A Comprehensive High-Efficiency Protocol for Isolation, Culture, Polarization, and Glycolytic Characterization of Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages.

# publications[].label
Effect of ghrelin on glucose regulation in mice.

# publications[].label
Identification of a placental-specific enhancer in the rat placental lactogen II gene that contains binding sites for members of the Ets and AP-1 (activator protein 1) families of transcription factors.

# publications[].label
Ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1A) agonists show potential as interventive agents during aging.

# researcherOn[].label
The role of GHS-R in macrophage reprogramming during meta-inflammation.

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.preferredLabel
DHHS-NIH-National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders

# researcherOn[].label
Improving the health span of aging adults through diet and physical activity.

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institute of Food and Agriculture - (Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
Hypothalamic GHS-R in thermogenic regulation and diet-induced obesity

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institute of Food and Agriculture - (Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
Ghrelin Receptor in Macrophages: A Key Mediator of Both Non-shivering Thermogenesis in Brown Fat and Adipose Inflammation in White Fat?

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
American Diabetes Association - (Alexandria, Virginia, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
Nutrient-sensing GHS-R in macrophage reprogramming and inflamm-aging

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
Targeting Insulin Resistance by Estrogen Receptor in Control of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.preferredLabel
DHHS-NIH-National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders

# researcherOn[].label
The role of GHS-R in macrophage reprogramming during meta-inflammation

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.preferredLabel
DHHS-NIH-National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders

# researcherOn[].label
Ghrelin deficiency predisposes mice to aging-associated inflammation through compromised gut function and microbiota dysbiosis

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Institutes of Health - (Bethesda, Maryland, United States)

# streetAddress
Texas A&M University; Nutrition & Food Science; 2253 TAMU

# schools[]
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences