Rebecca Anne Haeusler, PhD

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Overview

Email: rah2130@columbia.edu

Academic Appointments

  • Associate Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology

Credentials & Experience

Education & Training

  • BS, 2000 Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • PhD, 2007 Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan

Research

The goals of our research are to understand the development of proatherogenic metabolic abnormalities in insulin resistant individuals, and to identify new therapeutic targets for improving these abnormalities. Two current areas of focus are dysregulation of (i) lipoprotein and (ii) bile acid metabolism. Lipoproteins carry out atherogenic and atheroprotective actions, and may link insulin resistance with cardiovascular disease. Bile acids are involved in maintaining cholesterol, glucose, and triglyceride homeostasis, and are dysregulated during insulin resistance and diabetes. Through these two research areas, we aim to determine mechanisms of metabolic abnormalities and atherogenesis in the natural history of type 2 diabetes, and to identify potential therapeutic targets.

Welcome to Haeusler Lab.

Research Interests

  • Diabetes
  • Cardiometabolic disease
  • Insulin action and insulin resistance
  • Lipid metabolism
  • Bile acid metabolism

Selected Publications

  • Izquierdo MC, Shanmugarajah N, Lee SX, Kraakman MJ, Westerterp M, Kitamoto T, Harris M, Cook JR, Gusarova GA, Zhong K, Marbuary E, O-Sullivan I, Rasmus NF, Camastra S, Unterman T, Ferrannini E, Hurwitz BE, Haeusler RA. (2022) Hepatic FoxOs link insulin signaling with plasma lipoprotein metabolism through an apolipoprotein M/sphingosine-1-phosphate pathway. J Clin Invest 132: e146219
  • Oteng A-B, Higuchi S, Banks AS, Haeusler RA. (2021) Cyp2c-deficiency depletes muricholic acids and protects against high fat diet-induced obesity in male mice but promotes liver damage.  Mol Metab 53: 101326
  • Ahmad TR, Higuchi S, Bertaggia E, Hung A, Shanmugarajah N, Guilz NC, Gamarra JR, Haeusler RA. (2020) Bile acid composition regulates the manganese transporter Slc30a10 in intestine. J Biol Chem 295: 12545-12558
  • Higuchi S, Ahmad TR, Argueta DA, Perez PA, Zhao C, Schwartz GJ, DiPatrizio NV, Haeusler RA. (2020) Bile acid composition regulates GPR119-dependent intestinal lipid sensing and food intake regulation in mice. Gut 69: 1620-1628
  • Ahmad TR and Haeusler RA. (2019) Bile aci ds in glucose metabolism and insulin signaling: mechanisms and research needs Nat Rev Endocrinol 15: 701-712
  • Lee SX, Heine M, Schlein C, Ramakrishnan R, Liu J, Belnavis G, Haimi I, Fischer AW, Ginsberg HN, Heeren J, Rinninger F, and Haeusler RA. (2018) FoxO Transcription Factors are Required for Hepatic HDL-Cholesterol Clearance J Clin Invest 128: 1615-1626
  • Kim KJ, Goldberg IJ, Graham MJ, Sundaram M, Bertaggia E, Lee SX, Qiang L, Haeusler RA, Metzger D, Chambon P, Yao Z, Ginsberg HN, and Pajvani UB (2018) Gamma-secretase inhibition lowers plasma triglyceride-rich lipoproteins by stabilizing the LDL receptor Cell Metab 27: 816-827
  • Bertaggia E, Jensen K, Castro-Perez J, Xu Y, Di Paolo G, Chan RB, Wang L, Haeusler RA. (2017) Cyp8b1 ablation prevents western diet-induced weight gain and hepatic steatosis due to impaired fat absorption. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 313: E121-E133
  • Langlet, Haeusler RA, Linden D, Ericson E, Norris T, Johansson A, Cook JR, Aizawa K, Sang L, Buettner C, Accili D. (2017) Selective Inhibition of FOXO1 Activator/Repressor Balance Modulates Hepatic Glucose Handling. Cell 171:824-833
  • Haeusler RA, McGraw T, and Accili D. (2017) Biochemical and cellular properties of insulin receptor signaling. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 19:31-44
  • Haeusler RA, Camastra S, Nannipieri M, Astiarraga G, Castro-Perez J, Xie D, Wang L, Chakravarthy M, Ferrannini E. (2016) Increased Bile Acid Synthesis and Impaired Bile Acid Transport in Human Obesity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 101:1935
  • Ferrannini E, Camastra S, Astiarraga G, Nannipieri M, Castro-Perez J, Xie D, Wang L, Chakravarthy M, Haeusler RA. (2015) Increased Bile Acid Synthesis and Deconjugation after Biliopancreatic Diversion. Diabetes doi:10.2337/db15-0214
  • Haeusler RA, Camastra S, Astiarraga B, Nannipieri M, Anselmino N, and Ferranini E. (2014) Decreased Expression of Hepatic Glucokinase in Type 2 Diabetes. Molecular Metab. 4: 222
  • Haeusler RA, Hartil K, Vaitheesvaran B, Arrieta-Cruz I, Knight CM, Cook JR, Kammoun HL, Febbraio MA, Gutierrez-Juarez R, Kurland IJ, and Accili D. (2014) Integrated control of hepatic lipogenesis versus glucose production requires FoxO transcription factors. Nature Commun. 5: 5190
  • Haeusler RA, Astiarraga B, Camastra S, Accili D, and Ferrannini E. (2013) Human Insulin Resistance is Associated with Increased Plasma Levels of 12-Hydroxylated Bile Acids. Diabetes. 62: 4184
  • Haeusler RA, Pratt-Hyatt M, Welch CL, Klaassen CD, and Accili D. (2012) Impaired Generation of 12-Hydroxylated Bile Acids Links Hepatic Insulin Signaling with Dyslipidemia. Cell Metab. 15: 65-74

For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov