Staff Profile

Dr Rachel Batterham

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Personal Profile

Name: Rachel Batterham Email: r.batterham@ucl.ac.uk
Title: Dr Tel: 020 7679 0991
Department: Metabolism & Experimental Therapeutics Fax: 020 7679 6583
Position: Reader in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Obesity Address: Rayne Building, 5 University Street , London , WC1E 6JJ
Research Domain: Cardiometabolic Science, Experimental Medicine, Neuroscience Web Page: Personal Web Page

Profile

Research Description

Complex interrelated neuronal circuits have developed in the mammalian brain to regulate many aspects of feeding behaviour. An increased understanding of how peripheral energy signals act upon these circuits to regulate food intake is essential for effective treatment of the current obesity crisis. We employ an holistic approach from molecular mechanisms to whole animal physiology and assessment of behaviour. Our approaches include in vitro cell line studies, quantitative gene expression analysis, neuroanatomical mapping studies, generation of tissue specific knock out mice and studies in healthy volunteers and obese patients.

We have shown that the gut hormone peptide YY (PYY) regulates feeding behaviour in rodents and humans and identified that the neuropeptide Y2 receptor is crucial for the anorectic effects of PYY. By generating mice-lacking PYY we have shown that this hormone plays a crucial role in the regulation of body weight. Moreover, we have shown that infusion of PYY reduces food intake in obese human subjects. More recently using fMRI in healthy male volunteers we have shown that PYY modulates neuronal activity within both homeostatic (hypothalamic and brainstem) and hedonic (orbitofrontal cortex) brain regions. We are currently investigating how whole brain circuits involved in homeostasis and reward respond to different stimuli depending on the nutritional status of the animal (fasted/fed/normal weight, obese).

Bariatric surgery is the most effective weight-loss treatment for morbidly obese patients ameliorating obesity co-morbidities and decreasing mortality. However, despite its widespread use, the mechanisms underlying the benefits of bariatric (weight loss) surgery are largely unknown. One of the research focuses of the group is to investigate how bariatric surgery results in marked appetite reduction and weight loss by studying the effects of this surgery (in rodents and humans) on peripheral energy signals and the neural circuits whichregulate feeding behaviour.

Research Activities

The central nervous system regulation of energy homeostasis

Translation research aimed at understanding how feeding behaviour is regulated

Education Description

UCL Collaborators

Dr David Gems; Prof Linda Partridge; Dr Paola Pedarzani; Prof Michael Duchen

External Collaborators

Publications

    2011

    • Scott WR, Batterham RL (2011). Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: understanding weight loss and improvements in type 2 diabetes after bariatric surgery.. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol, 301(1), R15 - R27. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00038.2011
    • Chandarana K, Gelegen C, Karra E, Choudhury AI, Drew ME, Fauveau V, Viollet B, Andreelli F, Withers DJ, Batterham RL (2011). Diet and gastrointestinal bypass-induced weight loss: the roles of ghrelin and peptide YY.. Diabetes, 60(3), 810 - 818. doi:10.2337/db10-0566
    • Claret M, Smith MA, Knauf C, Al-Qassab H, Woods A, Heslegrave A, Piipari K, Emmanuel JJ, Colom A, Valet P, Cani PD, Begum G, White A, Mucket P, Peters M, Mizuno K, Batterham RL, Giese KP, Ashworth A, Burcelin R, Ashford ML, Carling D, Withers DJ (2011). Deletion of Lkb1 in pro-opiomelanocortin neurons impairs peripheral glucose homeostasis in mice.. Diabetes, 60(3), 735 - 745. doi:10.2337/db10-1055
    • King JA, Wasse LK, Ewens J, Crystallis K, Emmanuel J, Batterham RL, Stensel DJ (2011). Differential acylated ghrelin, peptide YY3-36, appetite, and food intake responses to equivalent energy deficits created by exercise and food restriction.. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 96(4), 1114 - 1121. doi:10.1210/jc.2010-2735

    2010

    • Karra E, Yousseif A, Batterham RL (2010). Mechanisms facilitating weight loss and resolution of type 2 diabetes following bariatric surgery.. Trends Endocrinol Metab, 21(6), 337 - 344. doi:10.1016/j.tem.2010.01.006
    • Neary MT, Batterham RL (2010). Gaining new insights into food reward with functional neuroimaging.. Forum Nutr, 63, 152 - 163. doi:10.1159/000264403
    • Karra E, Batterham RL (2010). The role of gut hormones in the regulation of body weight and energy homeostasis.. Mol Cell Endocrinol, 316(2), 120 - 128. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2009.06.010
    • Symmonds M, Emmanuel JJ, Drew ME, Batterham RL, Dolan RJ (2010). Metabolic state alters economic decision making under risk in humans.. PLoS One, 5(6), e11090 - . doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0011090

    2009

    • Broom DR, Batterham RL, King JA, Stensel DJ (2009). Influence of resistance and aerobic exercise on hunger, circulating levels of acylated ghrelin, and peptide YY in healthy males.. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol, 296(1), R29 - R35. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.90706.2008
    • Cantley J, Selman C, Shukla D, Abramov AY, Forstreuter F, Esteban MA, Claret M, Lingard SJ, Clements M, Harten SK, Asare-Anane H, Batterham RL, Herrera PL, Persaud SJ, Duchen MR, Maxwell PH, Withers DJ (2009). Deletion of the von Hippel-Lindau gene in pancreatic beta cells impairs glucose homeostasis in mice.. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 119(1), 125 - 135. doi:10.1172/JCI26934
    • Karra E, Chandarana K, Batterham RL (2009). The role of peptide YY in appetite regulation and obesity.. J Physiol, 587(Pt 1), 19 - 25. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2008.164269
    • Chandarana K, Drew ME, Emmanuel J, Karra E, Gelegen C, Chan P, Cron NJ, Batterham RL (2009). Subject standardization, acclimatization, and sample processing affect gut hormone levels and appetite in humans.. Gastroenterology, 136(7), 2115 - 2126. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2009.02.047
    • Neary MT, Batterham RL (2009). Peptide YY: food for thought.. Physiol Behav, 97(5), 616 - 619. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2009.02.024
    • Neary MT, Batterham RL (2009). Gut hormones: implications for the treatment of obesity.. Pharmacol Ther, 124(1), 44 - 56. doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2009.06.005
    • Selman C, Tullet JM, Wieser D, Irvine E, Lingard SJ, Choudhury AI, Claret M, Al-Qassab H, Carmignac D, Ramadani F, Woods A, Robinson IC, Schuster E, Batterham RL, Kozma SC, Thomas G, Carling D, Okkenhaug K, Thornton JM, Partridge L, Gems D, Withers DJ (2009). Ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 signaling regulates mammalian life span.. Science, 326(5949), 140 - 144. doi:10.1126/science.1177221
    • Al-Qassab H, Smith MA, Irvine EE, Guillermet-Guibert J, Claret M, Choudhury AI, Selman C, Piipari K, Clements M, Lingard S, Chandarana K, Bell JD, Barsh GS, Smith AJ, Batterham RL, Ashford ML, Vanhaesebroeck B, Withers DJ (2009). Dominant role of the p110beta isoform of PI3K over p110alpha in energy homeostasis regulation by POMC and AgRP neurons.. Cell Metab, 10(5), 343 - 354. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2009.09.008

    2008

    • Selman C, Lingard S, Choudhury AI, Batterham RL, Claret M, Clements M, Ramadani F, Okkenhaug K, Schuster E, Blanc E, Piper MD, Al-Qassab H, Speakman JR, Carmignac D, Robinson IC, Thornton JM, Gems D, Partridge L, Withers DJ (2008). Evidence for lifespan extension and delayed age-related biomarkers in insulin receptor substrate 1 null mice. The FASEB Journal, 22(3), 807 - 818.
    • Chandarana KAB, R (2008). Peptide YY. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes, 15(1), 65 - 72.
    • Rahman S, Scobie AI, Elkalaawy M, Bidlake LE, Fiennes AG, Batterham RL (2008). Can glucose make you faint?. Lancet, 372(9646), 1358 - . doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61557-3
    • Tsilchorozidou T, Batterham RL, Conway GS (2008). Metformin increases fasting plasma peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY) in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf), 69(6), 936 - 942. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.2008.03285.x

    2007

    • Batterham RL, ffytche DH, Rosenthal JM, Zelaya FO, Barker GJ, Withers DJ, Williams SC (2007). PYY modulation of cortical and hypothalamic brain areas predicts feeding behaviour in humans. Nature, 450(71566), 106 - 109.
    • Claret M, Smith MA, Batterham RL, Selman C, Choudhury A, Fryer LGD, Clements M, Al-Qassab H, Heffron H X, A W S, J R B, G S V, B V, S A, M L J C, D W, D J (2007). AMPK is essential for energy homeostasis regulation and glucose sensing by POMC and AgRP neurons.. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 117(8), 2325 - 2336. doi:10.1172/JCI31516

    2006

    • Batterham RL, Heffron H, Kapoor S, Chivers JE, Chandarana K, Herzog H, Le Roux CW, Thomas EL, Bell JD, Withers DJ (2006). Critical role for peptide YY in protein-mediated satiation and body-weight regulation.. Cell Metabolism, 4(3), 223 - 233. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2006.08.001
    • Le Roux C, W , Aylwin SJ, Batterham RL, Borg C M, Prasad V, Shurey S, Ghatei MA, Patel AG, Bloom SR (2006). Gut hormone profiles following bariatric surgery favor an anorectic state, facilitate weight loss, and improve metabolic parameters.. Annals of Surgery, 243(1), 108 - 114.
    • le Roux CW, Aylwin SJB, Batterham RL, Borg CM, Coyle F, Prasad V, Shurey S, Ghateil MA, Patel AG, Bloom SR (2006). Gut hormone profiles may explain reduced appetite and food intake following bariatric surgery.
    • Le Roux CW, Batterham RL, Aylwin SJ, Patterson M, Borg CM, Wynne KJ, Kent A, Vincent RP, Gardiner J, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR (2006). Attenuated peptide YY release in obese subjects is associated with reduced satiety.. Endocrinology, , - .

    2005

    • Le Roux CW, Aylwin SJB, Batterham RL, Coyle F, Borg CM, Prasad V, Shurey S, Ghatei MA, Patel AG, Bloom SR (2005). Gut hormone profiles may explain reduced appetite and food intake following bariatric surgery.
    • Choudhury AI, Heffron H, Smith MA, Al-Qassab H, Xu AW, Selman C, Simmgen M, Clements M, Claret M, MacColl G, Bedford DC, Hisadome K, Diakonov I, Moosajee V, Bell JD, Speakman JR, Batterham RL, Barsh GS, Ashford MLJ, Withers DJ (2005). The role of insulin receptor substrate 2 in hypothalamic and beta cell function.. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 115, 940 - 950. doi:10.1172/JCI200524445
    • Choudhury AI, Heffron H, Smith MA, Al-Qassab H, Xu AW, Selman C, Simmgen M, Clements M, Claret M, Maccoll G, Bedford DC, Hisadome K, Diakonov I, Moosajee V, Bell JD, Speakman JR, Batterham RL, Barsh GS, Ashford ML, Withers DJ (2005). The role of insulin receptor substrate 2 in hypothalamic and beta cell function.. J Clin Invest, 115(4), 940 - 950. doi:10.1172/JCI24445

    2004

    • Gossiel F, Le Roux CW, Batterham RL, Cohen MA, Bloom SR, Blumsohn A (2004). Bone turnover response to feeding and infusion of gut hormones peptide YY3-36, pancreatic polypeptide and oxyntomodulin..
    • le Roux CW, Aylwin SJB, Batterham RL, Wynne KJ, Borg CM, Hunt C, Wedlake L, Monteiro M, Frost G, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR (2004). PYY deficiency may reinforce obesity.
    • Dakin CL, Small CJ, Batterham RL, Neary NM, Cohen MA, Patterson M, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR (2004). Peripheral oxyntomodulin reduces food intake and body weight gain in rats.. Endocrinology, 145(6), 2687 - 2695.
    • Batterham RL (2004). Gastrointestinal hormonal signals in the regulation of food intake and their role in obesity.

    2003

    • Batterham RL, Cohen MA, Ellis SM, Le Roux CW, Withers DJ, Frost GS, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR (2003). Inhibition of food intake in obese subjects by peptide YY3-36.. New England Journal of Medicine, 349(10), 926 - 928.
    • Batterham RL, Cohen MA, Ellis SM, Le Roux CW, Withers DJ, Frost GS, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR (2003). Inhibition of food intake in obese subjects by peptide YY3-36. New England Journal of Medicine, 349(10), 941 - 948. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa030204
    • Batterham RL, Le Roux CW, Cohen MA, Park AJ, Ellis SM, Patterson M, Frost GS, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR (2003). Pancreatic polypeptide reduces appetite and food intake in humans.. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 88(8), 3989 - 3992. doi:10.1210/jc.2003-030630
    • Batterham RL, Bloom SR (2003). The gut hormone peptide YY regulates appetite.. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 994, 162 - 168.

    2002

    • Batterham RL, Cowley MA, Small CJ, Herzog H, Cohen MA, Dakin CL, Wren AM, Brynes AE, Low MJ, Ghatei MA, Cone RD, Bloom SR (2002). Gut hormone PYY(3-36) physiologically inhibits food intake.. Nature, 418(6898), 650 - 654. doi:10.1038/nature02666
    • Batterham RL, Cowley MA, Small CJ, Herzog H, Cohen MA, Dakin CL, Wren AM, Brynes AE, Low MJ, Ghatei MA, Cone RD, Bloom SR (2002). Gut hormone PYY(3-36) physiologically inhibits food intake.. Nature, 418(6898), 650 - 654. doi:10.1038/nature00887

    • Batterham RL, ffytche D, Rosenthal M, Zelaya F, Barker G, Withers DJ, Williams S (). PYY modulation of cortical and hypothalamic brain areas predicts feeding behaviour in humans. Nature, , - . doi:10.1038/nature06212