Bergman Lab

Professor of Medicine

Dr. Bergman’s research focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind muscle insulin resistance, the development of steatotic liver disease, and tissue-to-tissue communication by analyzing human tissue samples across a wide range of metabolic health. In addition to conducting clinical research interventions with deep phenotyping and tissue sampling, Dr. Bergman collaborates with the University’s minimally invasive surgical team to obtain hard-to-access tissue samples during laparoscopic procedures. His lab also investigates mechanisms of metabolic dysfunction using cell culture, identifying potential therapeutic targets that cannot be studied directly in human trials. A major focus of his work is how adipose tissue in skeletal muscle as well as lipid storage within skeletal muscle reduces insulin sensitivity, as well as the role of adipose tissue signaling in regulating the function of nearby and distant tissues. Dr. Bergman has received continuous NIH funding for 18 years, currently holding three active R01 grants and collaborations with industry partners.

Dr. Bergman is also the director of the Molecular and Cellular Analysis core for the Nutrition and Obesity Research Center, and his lab runs a “Lipidomics and Mass Spetrometry core” that is directed by Dr. Karin Zemski Berry.

Bergman, BC and BH Goodpaster. Exercise and muscle lipids – influence on muscle insulin sensitivity. Diabetes. 2020 May;69(5):848-858. doi: 10.2337/dbi18-0042. PMID: 32312901
Rosaly Correa-de-Araujo, Odessa Addison, Iva Miljkovic, Bret H Goodpaster, Bryan C Bergman, Richard V. Clark, Joanne Elena, Karyn A Esser, Luigi Ferrucci, Tamara Harris, Michael O Harris-Love , Steve B Kritchevsky, Amanda Lorbergs, John A Shepherd, Gerald I Shulman, Clifford J Rosen. Myosteatosis in the Context of Skeletal Muscle Function Deficit: Report from the National Institute on Aging Workshop. Front Physiol. 2020 Aug 7;11:963. doi:10.3389/fphys.2020.00963 PMID: 32903666
MoTrPAC Consortium. Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC): Mapping the Dynamic Responses to Exercise. Cell, 2020 Jun 25;181(7):1464-1474. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.06.004. PMID: 32589957
Kahn, D, Perreault L, Macias, E, Zarini, S, Newsom SA, Strauss A, Kerege A, Harrison K, Snell-Bergeon J, Bergman BC. Subcellular localization and composition of intramuscular triglyceride influence insulin sensitivity in humans. Diabetologia, 2021 Jan;64(1):168-180 PMID: 33128577 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-020-05315-0
Broussard JL, Perreault L, Macias E, Newsom SA, Harrison K, Bui HH, Milligan P, Roth KD, Nemkov T, D’Alessandro A, Brozinick JT, Bergman BC. Sex differences in insulin sensitivity are related to muscle tissue acylcarnitine but not subcellular lipid distribution. Obesity, 29:3, 550-561, 2021. PMID: 33624435
Fridman V, Zarini S, Sillau S, Harrison K, Bergman BC, Feldman EL, Reusch JEB, Callaghan B. Altered Plasma Serine and 1-Deoxydihydroceramide Profiles are Associated with Diabetic Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity. J Diabetes Complications, 2021 Apr;35(4):107852. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2021.107852 PMID: 33485750
Sparks, LM, Goodpaster, BH, Bergman, BC. The metabolic significance of intermuscular adipose tissue: is IMAT a friend or a foe to metabolic health? Diabetes, 2021 Nov;70(11):2457-2467. doi: 10.2337/dbi19-0006. PMID: 34711670
Kahn, DE, Bergman BC. Keeping it Local in Metabolic Disease: Adipose Tissue Paracrine Signaling and Insulin Resistance. Diabetes, Diabetes. 2022 Apr 1;71(4):599-609. doi: 10.2337/dbi21-0020. PMID: 35316835
Bodkin SG, Smith AC, Bergman BC, Huo D, Weber KA, Zarini S, Kahn D, Garfield A, Macias E, Harris-Love MO. Utilization of Mid-thigh Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Predict Lean Body Mass and Knee Extensor Strength in Obese Adults. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, 24 March 2022 doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2022.808538. PMID: 35419566.
Chaves AB, Zheng D, Johnson JA , Bergman BC, Patinkin ZW, Zaegel V, Biagioni EM, Krassovskaia PM, Broskey NT, May LE, Dabelea D, Houmard JA, Boyle KE. Infant mesenchymal stem cell insulin action is associated with maternal plasma free fatty acids, independent of obesity status: The Healthy Start Study. Diabetes, Accepted 2022.
Kahn D, Macias E, Zarini S, Garfield A, Zemski Berry K, Gerszten RE, Schoen J, Cree-Green M, Bergman BC. Quantifying the Inflammatory Secretome of Human Intermuscular Adipose Tissue. Physiological Reports, Accepted 2022.

Research Topics

1

Elucidate how intermuscular adipose tissue impacts skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity, muscle strength, and size in humans

This study combines muscle biopsy visits with elective surgeries to obtain intermuscular, subcutaneous, and visceral adipose tissue biopsies and is funded by R01DK118149.

2

Pursuing mechanistic relationships between inter- and intra-muscular lipids and insulin sensitivity using primary muscle cell culture

This model is unique as the phenotype of donor is maintained in culture. The lab is using this model to determine mechanisms underlying the relationship between localized muscle lipids and insulin sensitivity, and how the secretome of intermuscular adipose tissue promotes insulin resistance.

3

Discovery of novel proteins secreted by intermuscular adipose tissue inducing muscle insulin resistance

This project is a collaboration with Eli Lilly and Co to uncover novel proteins secreted by IMAT that decrease muscle insulin sensitivity in vitro and in animal models. The goal is to develop novel therapeutic targets to antagonize IMAT signaling that promotes decreased muscle insulin sensitivity.

4

Evaluating how lifestyle interventions such as weight loss as well as exercise training alter intermuscular adipose tissue paracrine signaling and composition in humans

The Bergman lab has 2 NIH R01 grants to evaluate how weight loss (R01DK134706) and exercise training (R01AG 077956) impacts the cellular composition of IMAT, as well as the potency of the IMAT secretome to decrease muscle insulin sensitivity and promote sarcopenia.

Lab Personnel

Bergman Lab Personnel
	Sophia Bowen Professional Research Assistant
	Chris Johnson Senior Professional Research Assistant
	Puujee Jambal Professional Research Assistant
	Charis Uhlson Senior Professional Research Assistant
	Simona Zarini, PhD Senior Instructor
	Karin Zemski Berry, PhD Senior Instructor