Exercise, Glucose and lipid metabolism, Aging, Obesity, Inter-organ network

1) Elucidation of the regulatory mechanisms of glucose and lipid metabolism during
exercise
2) Development of strategies to improve age-related decline in exercise capacity by
targeting hepatic metabolic regulation
3) Development of strategies to enhance weight loss efficiency during exercise by
targeting hepatic metabolic regulation

The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine
The Japan Diabetes Society
The Japan Endocrine Society
Japan Society for the Study of Obesity
Japan Atherosclerosis Society
The Japanese Biochemical Society
The Molecular Biology Society of Japan

Exercise is a cornerstone therapy for metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity,
and is also known to exert preventive and therapeutic effects on a wide range of
conditions, including cardiovascular disease, sarcopenia, osteoporosis, cancer,
dementia, and depression. However, despite its widespread use both in daily life and in
medical practice, the mechanisms by which exercise confers such broad metabolic
benefits remain incompletely understood. Furthermore, there is still limited scientific
evidence regarding which types of exercise are optimal for specific diseases.

In my research, I aim to elucidate metabolic regulation during exercise in both mice and
humans, and to develop novel therapeutic strategies that maximize the metabolic
benefits of exercise through targeted modulation of these pathways.

1) Elucidation of regulatory mechanisms of glucose and lipid metabolism during
exercise
Using stable isotope–based metabolic flux analysis, I investigate how key energy
substrates, such as glucose and lipids, are produced and utilized during exercise at the
whole-body level.

2) Development of strategies to improve age-related decline in exercise capacity by targeting hepatic metabolic regulation
Aging is associated with a decline in exercise capacity, which contributes to the onset of various diseases. By modulating hepatic metabolic pathways, including
gluconeogenesis, I aim to develop novel strategies to enhance exercise capacity in the
aging population.

3) Development of strategies to enhance weight loss efficiency during exercise by
targeting hepatic metabolic regulation
The liver utilizes energy substrates derived from adipose tissue to produce glucose and
other metabolites during exercise. By regulating these processes, I aim to develop new
therapeutic approaches that improve weight loss efficiency, even under equivalent
exercise conditions.

Overall, this research seeks to establish a fundamental understanding of metabolic
dynamics during exercise, while advancing the development of novel therapeutic
strategies based on liver-targeted metabolic regulation.

https://researchmap.jp/horiuchi_tohoku?lang=en