Philip A. Kern, M.D.

Professor of Medicine

Associate Chief of Staff for Research for the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System

M.D., New York Medical College

Clinical Interests:

• Obesity
• Metabolic syndrome
• Lipoprotein metabolism
• Type 2 diabetes

Research Interests:

Dr. Kern is engaged in both basic and clinical research related to obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. In clinical studies, Dr. Kern and his colleagues have examined adipose tissue and muscle gene expression in relation to insulin resistance. Current themes involve a detailed evaluation of the role of tissue lipotoxicity and adipose tissue inflammation as important factors in obesity related insulin resistance.

Dr. Kern’s basic research involves the gene expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), which is an important enzyme in adipose tissue that is involved in triglyceride metabolism, diabetes, and obesity. In recent studies, Dr. Kern’s lab identified components of an RNA binding complex that inhibited LPL translation in response to catecholamines. These data suggest a duel role for cAMP stimulation, resulting in a coordinated response to rapidly promote release of adipocyte lipid and inhibition of lipogenesis, all through posttranscriptional mechanisms.

Selected Publications:

Rasouli N, Yao-Borengasser A, Miles LM, Elbein SC, Kern PA. Increased Plasma Adiponectin in Response to Pioglitazone Does Not Result From Increased Gene Expression. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 290(1):E42-E46 2006. [PM:16118250]*

Ranganathan G, Pokrovskaya I, Ranganathan S, Kern PA. Role of a Kinase Anchor Proteins in the Tissue-Specific Regulation of Lipoprotein Lipase. Mol Endocrinol 19(10):2527-2534 2005. [PM:15961507]*

Di Gregorio GB, Yao-Borengasser A, Rasouli N, Varma V, Lu T, Miles LM, Ranganathan G, Peterson CA, McGehee RE, Kern PA. Expression of CD68 and Macrophage Chemoattractant Protein-1 Genes in Human Adipose and Muscle Tissues: Association With Cytokine Expression, Insulin Resistance, and Reduction by Pioglitazone. Diabetes 54(8):2305-2313 2005. [PM:16046295]*

Rasouli N, Raue U, Miles LM, Lu T, Di Gregorio GB, Elbein SC, Kern PA. Pioglitazone Improves Insulin Sensitivity Through Reduction in Muscle Lipid and Redistribution of Lipid into Adipose Tissue. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 288(5):E930-E934 2005. [PM:15632102]*

Di Gregorio GB, Westergren R, Enerback S, Lu T, Kern PA. Expression of FOXC2 in Adipose and Muscle and Its Association With Whole Body Insulin Sensitivity. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 287(4):E799-E803 2004. [PM:15198934]*

Hensley LL, Ranganathan G, Wagner EM, Wells BD, Daniel JC, Vu D, Semenkovich CF, Zechner R, Kern PA. Transgenic Mice Expressing Lipoprotein Lipase in Adipose Tissue. Absence of the Proximal 3'-Untranslated Region Causes Translational Upregulation. J Biol Chem 278(35):32702-32709 2003. [PM:12796491]*

Kern PA , Di Gregorio GB, Lu T, Rassouli N, Ranganathan G. Adiponectin Expression From Human Adipose Tissue: Relation to Obesity, Insulin Resistance, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Expression. Diabetes 52(7):1779-1785 2003. [PM:12829646]*

Ranganathan G, Phan D, Pokrovskaya ID, McEwen JE, Li C, Kern PA. The Translational Regulation of Lipoprotein Lipase by Epinephrine Involves an RNA Binding Complex Including the Catalytic Subunit of Protein Kinase A. J Biol Chem 277(45):43281-43287 2002. [PM:12218046]*

Kern PA , Ranganathan S, Li C, Wood L, Ranganathan G. Adipose Tissue Tumor Necrosis Factor and Interleukin-6 Expression in Human Obesity and Insulin Resistance. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 280(5):E745-E751 2001. [PM:11287357]*

Kern PA , Simsolo RB, Fournier M. Effect of Weight Loss on Muscle Fiber Type, Fiber Size, Capillarity, and Succinate Dehydrogenase Activity in Humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 84(11):4185-4190 1999. [PM:10566670]*

Kern PA , Saghizadeh M, Ong JM, Bosch RJ, Deem R, Simsolo RB. The Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor in Human Adipose Tissue. Regulation by Obesity, Weight Loss, and Relationship to Lipoprotein Lipase. J Clin Invest 95(5):2111-2119 1995. [PM:7738178]*

Maffei M, Halaas J, Ravussin E, Pratley RE, Lee GH, Zhang Y, Fei H, Kim S, Lallone R, Ranganathan S, . Leptin Levels in Human and Rodent: Measurement of Plasma Leptin and Ob RNA in Obese and Weight-Reduced Subjects. Nat Med 1(11):1155-1161 1995. [PM:7584987]*

Additional publications listed on PubMed*