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Gerard Karsenty
Gerard Karsenty
Professor and Chair, Genetics and Development


Address: 701 West 168th Street Room 1602A New York NY 10032
Phone: 212-305-6398
Fax: 212-923-2090
E-mail:

 gk2172@columbia.edu
Education and Training:
 M.D., Ph.D. 1984, University of Paris V
Postdoctoral Fellowship 1987, National Institute of Health
Postdoctoral Fellowship 1990, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Affiliations:
 bullet  Department of Genetics and Development
bullet  Department of Medicine
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Training Activities:
 bullet  Graduate Program in Genetics and Development
bullet  Integrated Program in Molecular, Cellular and Biophysical Studies
Research Summary:
 (800 words, max)
 Novel Physiology of the Skeleton
Current Research:
 With the growing molecular understanding of events occurring in cells or a given organ we have achieved, a fundamental question of vertebrate biology is now to understand how an entire organism functions as a single coherent and integrated unit, in other words how physiology operates at the level of the entire organism. To begin to address this problem we use as a tool the latest organ that appears during evolution, the bone and ask if and how it influences other organs and physiological processes. To address this question we formulated the hypothesis, based on evolutionary and medical considerations, that the control of bone growth, energy metabolism and reproduction must be coordinated. Exploring this hypothesis led us to demonstrate that bone is an endocrine organ secreting a hormone, osteocalcin, that influences functions as diverse and important as energy metabolism, reproduction, learning and memory. What emerges from this work conducted at the organism and molecular levels is that bone may not only be a victim of aging but may also prevent or post-pone decay of a series of key physiological functions through osteocalcin.

We are continuing to explore all facets of our working hypothesis, to determine if the interorgan communications we identify can lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of degenerative diseases. Ultimately our goal is to use the knowledge to propose adapted therapies for these diseases
Publications:
(6 max)
 1. Lee NK, Sowa H, Hinoi E, Ferron M Ahn JD, Confavreux C, Dacquin R, Mee PJ, McKee M, Jung, DY, Zhang Z, Kim JK, Mauvais-Jarvis F, Ducy P, and Karsenty G : (2007) Endocrine regulation of energy metabolism by the skeleton.  Cell  130: 456-469

2. Yadav VK, Ryu JH, Suda N, Tanaka K, Gingrich J, Schutz G, Glorieux FH, Insogna K, Mann JJ, Hen R, Ducy P and Karsenty G: (2008) Lrp5 control bone mass by inhibiting serotonin synthesis in the duodenum.  Cell  135(5): 825-837

3. Yadav VK, Oury F, Suda N, Liu Z-W, Gao X-B, Confavreux C, Klemenhagen CK, Tanaka KF, Gingrich JA, Guo XE, Tecott LH, Mann JJ, Horvath TL and Karsenty G.: (2009) A serotonin-dependent mechanism explains leptin regulation of bone mass, appetite and energy expenditure.  Cell  138(5): 976-989

4. Ferron M, Wei J, Yoshizawa T, Del Fattore A, De Pinho RA, Teti A, Ducy P and Karsenty G: (2010) Insulin signaling in osteoblasts integrates bone remodeling and energy metabolism .  Cell  142: 296-308

5. Oury F, Sumara G, Sumara O, Ferron M, Smith CE, Hermo L, Suarez S, Roth BL, Ducy P and Karsenty G: (2011) Endocrine regulation of male fertility by the skeleton.  Cell  144: 796-810

6. Arteaga-solis E, Zee T, Emala C, Vinson C, Wess J and Karsenty G: (2013) Inhibition of leptin regulation of the parasympathetic tone as a cause of extreme body weight-associated asthma.  Cell  17(1): 35-48

URL for lab page:
  

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