Lone Vendel Nielsen: Dietary trans fatty acids: the effect on liver cells and risk of cardiovascular disease

A correlation between the intake of trans fatty acids and the risk of cardiovascular diseases has already been established, but not much is known about the cellular mechanisms causing the adverse health effects.

During her PhD studies, Lone Vendel Nielsen investigated changes in levels of both secreted and intracellular proteins and in the lipid composition of liver cells during exposure to dietary trans fatty acids. Her results revealed that the main trans fatty acid of industrial origin induced increased levels of essentially all proteins involved in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. Furthermore, the main trans fatty acids of both industrial and natural origin caused changes in levels of proteins involved in the regulation of blood coagulation. The research pointed out new potential biomarkers for diet-induced risk of cardiovascular disease and contributed to the understanding of disease-causing mechanisms.

The PhD degree was completed at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (iNANO), Science and Technology, Aarhus University.

Time: Thursday 24 April 2014 at 13.15
Place: AIAS Lecture Theatre, building 1632, room 201, Aarhus University, Høegh Guldbergsgade
Title of dissertation: Investigation of the hepatocellular responses to major dietary trans fatty acids: Proteomic, transcriptomic and lipidomic analyses of the cellular response to elaidic acid and comparison to vaccenic acid using the HepG2-SF liver cell model
Contact information: Lone Vendel Nielsen, loh@mb.au.dk, +45 2257 9108
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Baukje de Roos, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, UK
Senior Food Scientist Peter Langborg Wejse, Arla Foods Ingredients Group P/S, Denmark
Professor Daniel Otzen (chair), iNANO and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Professor Jan J. Enghild, iNANO and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Co-supervisor:
Professor Niels Christian Nielsen, iNANO and Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University
Language: The dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The dissertation is available for reading at the Graduate School of Science and Technology/GSST, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, room 112, 8000 Aarhus C.