Division Faculty

Frankie Stentz, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Medicine

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Current Studies:

1. Genomic and Proteomic Studies in Activated T-Lymphocytes and Muscle Tissue in Human Subjects with and without Type 2 Diabetes (GCRC 741) : The major goal of this study is to determine the genes activated, transcribed and translated during T-lymphocyte activation and the differences in this activation between normal and type 2 diabetic subjects and compare this to muscle tissue in these subjects.

2. Mechanisms of Action of Insulin in Insulin Resistant State: Using human isolated T-lymphocytes (T-cells) before and after activation by PHA we have demonstrated that activated cells metabolize insulin similar to human fibroblasts to smaller A and B chain peptides (J Biol Chem 1989; 264:20275-20282). Some of these intermediates have been synthesized and have been injected into the cells by electroporation to study their effects on insulin action. These intermediates are shown to stimulate DNA synthesis, protein synthesis and cytokine production (Current Drug Targets 4:493-503, 2003). The proposed studies will inquire into the role of these intermediates in PHA-activated T-lymphocytes from various insulin resistant states individuals such as obesity and PCOS. This is done in collaboration with Dr. Abbas Kitabchi.

5. Effect of hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia on denovo emergence of growth factor receptors (insulin, IGF, and IL2) in human T-lymphocyte (T-cells) and endothelial cells (E-cells). We have demonstrated that in vivo condition characterized by hyperglycemia or hyperlipidemia such as DKA is associated with activation of T-cells in vivo (Biochem Biophys Res Commun 315:404-7, 2004 & Diabetes 53:2079-2086, 2004). To further investigate mechanism of this phenomenon we studied effect of high glucose on T-cells (Biochem Biophys Res Commun 335:491-495, 2005) and endothelial cells (Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 290:E516-E522, 2006) as well as effect of palmitate and unsaturated fatty acids on both T-cells and endothelial cells (Biochem Biophys Res Commun 346:721-726, 2006). This study clearly demonstrated that both high glucose and high palmitate (but not unsaturated fatty acids) activate T and E-cells by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) lipid peroxidation and conversion of these non-insulin responsive cells to insulin responsive cells.