Thomas Q. de Aguiar Vallim, PhD

The research interests of Dr. Thomas de Aguiar Vallim's laboratory are directed towards understanding the regulation of lipid and bile acid metabolism and in health and disease. Bile acids, which are synthesized from cholesterol, represent the major route for cholesterol excretion from the body. However, bile acids are also key signaling molecules that act as potent metabolic regulators primarily by activating the nuclear receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR, Nr1h4). FXR is the master regulator of bile acid metabolism but also regulates lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, hepatoprotection, glucose homeostasis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cancer.

Baldan A, de Aguiar Vallim TQ. miRNAs and High-Density Lipoprotein metabolism. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2016 Feb 9. pii: S1388-1981(16)30021-X. doi: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2016.01.021. [Epub ahead of print]

Tarling EJ, Ahn H, de Aguiar Vallim TQ. The nuclear receptor FXR uncouples the actions of miR-33 from SREBP-2. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2015 Apr;35(4):787-95. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.114.304179. Epub 2015 Jan 15.

de Aguiar Vallim TQ, Tarling EJ, Ahn H, Hagey LR, Romanoski CE, Lee RG, Graham MJ, Motohashi H, Yamamoto M, Edwards PA. MAFG is a transcriptional repressor of bile acid synthesis and metabolism. Cell Metab. 2015 Feb 3;21(2):298-310. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2015.01.007.

de Aguiar Vallim TQ, Tarling EJ, Edwards PA. Pleiotropic roles of bile acids in metabolism. Cell Metab. 2013 May 7;17(5):657-69. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2013.03.013. Epub 2013 Apr 18.

de Aguiar Vallim TQ, Tarling EJ, Kim T, Civelek M, Baldan a, Esau C, Edwards PA. MicroRNA-144 regulates hepatic ATP binding cassette transporter A1 and plasma high-density lipoprotein after activation of the nuclear receptor farnesoid X receptor. Circ Res. 2013 Jun 7;112(12):1602-12. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.112.300648. Epub 2013 Mar 21.