Khosrow Adeli
Professor
MSc, Biochemistry, University of Ottawa, 1982
PhD, Biochemistry, University of Ottawa, 1986
Postdoc, Clinical Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 1988
| Address | 555 University Ave Toronto, ON M5G1X8 |
| Lab | Adeli Lab |
| Lab Phone | 416-813-7654 x308754 |
| Office Phone | 416-813-8682 |
| khosrow.adeli@sickkids.ca |
Dr. Adeli is a Senior Scientist in the Molecular Medicine Program of the Research Institute, as well as the Head of Clinical Biochemistry in the Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, at the Hospital for Sick Children. He is also a Full Professor in the Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology (LMP), Biochemistry, and Physiology at the University of Toronto. He currently serves as the Director of the Point of Care Testing Program at SickKids and Vice Chair of Quality in LMP at the University of Toronto. Recently, he was elected as the President of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC), a worldwide organization with 90 member countries and more than 45,000 laboratory physicians and scientists around the world. He is also the current Editor-in-Chief of Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences.
Dr. Adeli is a fellow of both the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry and a diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Biochemistry, and he has been actively involved in both basic research since 1988 with over 300 published articles and abstracts in the field of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, diabetic dyslipidemia, and metabolic disorders. His achievements have been recognized through several distinctions and careers awards; most recently, the 2020 Richard G. Hegele Award for Excellence in Research and Innovation at the University of Toronto, the 2019 AACC Academy Outstanding Research Award, the 2017 Graduate Teaching Award from the Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology Department at the University of Toronto, the 2016 Senior Investigator Award at the Canadian Lipoprotein Conference, the 2015 AACC Pediatric-Maternal-Fetal Division Award, the 2015 Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists Innovation Award, and the 2015 Ontario Society of Clinical Chemists Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Adeli has also been active in clinical chemistry research and is the principal investigator of the CALIPER (Canadian Laboratory Initiative on Pediatric Reference Interval Database) program aimed at the establishment of a laboratory reference interval database for biomarkers of pediatric health and disease.
Research Lab
The Adeli Lab was first to demonstrate hepatic and intestinal lipoprotein overproduction and the novel role of gut hormones (GLP-1 and GLP-2) in an insulin resistant hamster model. These observations have now been confirmed in humans. Most recently, we have discovered and reported a complex gut-brain-liver axis (via vagal and CNS receptors) that is triggered upon fat ingestion to modulate lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in healthy and diabetic states.
Learn more: Adeli Lab
Research Description
Molecular and Cellular Biology of Lipid and Lipoprotein Metabolism in Health and Disease
The incidences of insulin-resistant states such as obesity and type 2 diabetes have been increasing at an alarming rate in recent years in both paediatric and adult populations. Dr. Khosrow Adeli’s basic research program aims to elucidate the molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms underlying lipid and lipoprotein disorders in metabolic disease, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, employing dietary and genetic animal models. Currently, the laboratory is investigating the neuroendocrine mechanisms regulating intestinal and hepatic lipoprotein overproduction in insulin resistant states and the role of the gut-brain-liver axis in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.
In addition to basic research, the Adeli Lab also conducts various clinical research projects, including the CALIPER (Canadian Laboratory Initiative on Pediatric Reference Intervals) program, which aims to establish a comprehensive database of reference or “normal” ranges for medical laboratory tests in children and adolescents.
For more information on the basic and clinical research programs, please visit the Adeli Lab website.
Intestinal Lipoprotein Dysregulation in Insulin Resistance
- Neuroendocrine and molecular mechanisms that control dietary fat absorption and lead to chylomicron overproduction and diabetic dyslipidemia in insulin resistant states.
- Physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying regulation of dietary fat absorption in the intestine and production of chylomicrons by gut hormones (GLP-1 and GLP-2) in metabolic health and disease. Recently, we found that Neuronal Nitric Oxide (nNOS) appears to mediate GLP-2 regulation of dietary fat absorption and metabolism. Studies in the hamster and nNOS knockout mice clearly support the hypothesis that intestinal nNOS is a key regulator of lipid metabolism.
- Development and characterization of hamster knockout models, including GLP-1 receptor and GLP-2 receptor knockouts. The GLP-1 receptor knockout has been developed (in collaboration with Dr. Zhongde Wang at Utah State University) and is currently being characterized in our laboratory.
- Bile acid regulation of dietary fat absorption and intestinal chylomicron production. A TGR-5 (bile acid receptor) knockout hamster model has been developed and is being characterized to elucidate the signaling role of bile acids in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.
- Role of gut microbiota in controlling dietary fat absorption and intestinal lipoprotein production. Our recent preliminary data suggest a key role for gut microbiota in lipid metabolism. We have completed characterization of gut microbiota in the hamster model in the basal state as well as after a high-fat or high-fructose challenge. Antibiotic-induced inhibition of gut microbiota was found to have a marked effect on circulating lipids (major reduction of plasma triglyceride).
- Molecular and physiological mechanisms involved in serotonin regulation of intestinal lipid and lipoprotein homeostasis. We have found a very interesting link between serotonin synthesis in enterochromaffin cells of the intestine and the control of dietary fat absorption and metabolism.
Hepatic VLDL Biosynthesis and Overproduction in Insulin Resistance
- Physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism and VLDL production by gut hormones (GLP-1 and GLP-2) in metabolic health and disease.
- Role of gut microbiota in controlling hepatic lipoprotein metabolism. Our recent preliminary data suggest a key role for gut microbiota in lipid metabolism. We have completed characterization of gut microbiota in the hamster model in the basal state as well as after a high-fat or high-fructose challenge. Antibiotic-induced inhibition of gut microbiota was found to have a marked effect on hepatic lipid and lipoprotein secretion (marked reduction in hepatic VLDL levels).
Pediatric Reference Intervals for Biomarkers of Health and Disease
The Canadian Laboratory Initiative on Pediatric Reference Intervals (CALIPER) is a nation-wide health initiative to improve the diagnosis and monitoring of children and adolescents with medical concerns. Our main objective is to establish a comprehensive database of pediatric reference intervals for laboratory biomarkers of pediatric health and disease. Since 2009, more than 12,000 healthy children and adolescents have been recruited from schools and other community centres and over pediatric reference intervals have been established for over 185 laboratory biomarkers of health and disease. CALIPER has created an online database and mobile application for free access to these pediatric reference intervals.
Awards & Distinctions
2020 — Richard G. Hegele Award for Excellence in Research and Innovation
2019 — AACC Academy Outstanding Research Award
2017 — LMP Graduate Teaching Award
2016 — CLC Senior Investigator Award
2015 — AACC Pediatric-Maternal-Fetal Division Award
2015 — CSCC Innovation Award
2015 — OSCC Lifetime Achievement Award
Courses Taught
Extra-Departmental Courses
MNU 111Y Metabolism and Nutrition
LMP1404H Molecular & Cellular Mechanisms of Disease
LMP1503H Signal Transduction Pathways in Normal and Diseased Tissues
PSL425H Integrative Metabolism and Its Endocrine Regulation
MED100H Introduction to Medicine
Publications
View all publications on PubMed
High fat-high fructose diet-induced changes in the gut microbiota associated with dyslipidemia in Syrian hamsters
Horne RG, Yu Y, Zhang R, Abdalqadir N, Rossi L, Surette M, Sherman PM, Adeli K
Nutrients. 2020 Nov 20;12(11):3557 Read
Postprandial dyslipidemia in insulin resistant states in adolescent populations
Higgins V, Adeli K
J Biomed Res. 2020 Jan 30;34(5):328-342 Read
Role of Gut Microbiota in Neuroendocrine Regulation of Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism via the Microbiota-Gut-Brain-Liver Axis
Wang SZ, Yu YJ, Adeli K
Microorganisms. 2020 Apr 7;8(4):E527 Read
Bile acid treatment and FXR agonism lower postprandial lipemia in mice
Farr S, Stankovic B, Hoffman S, Masoudpoor H, Baker C, Taher J, Dean A, Anakk S, Adeli K
Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2020 Apr 1;318(4):G682-G693 Read
The Role of the Gut Microbiota in Lipid and Lipoprotein Metabolism
Yu Y, Raka F, Adeli K
J Clin Med. 2019 Dec 17;8(12):E2227 Read