Eleftheria Maratos-Flier, M.D.

Associate Professor of Medicine

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Division of Endocrinology
Room 380F
99 Brookline Ave.
Boston, MA 02215
Telephone: 617-667-2151
Fax: 617- 667-2927
Email: emaratos@bidmc.harvard.edu

My major interest is the role of the CNS in regulating feeding behavior and energy homeostasis.  My lab is focused on particular hypothalamic-striatal pathways and in particular on the role of the hormone leptin and the neuropeptide MCH in modulating motivated behavior.  We integrate changes in observed behavior with changes in gene expression and signaling pathways and neuronal electrophysiology.

My laboratory initially discovered the orexigenic role of MCH using RT-PCR differential display and we have since followed up on its role by generating over-expressing and knockout mice.  We also use mice lacking MCH as a model of anorexia.

As leptin also plays a critical role in body weight regulation we recently explored the effects of leptin on motivated behavior.  Our findings of dramatic impairments in motivation is consistent with other abnormalities in leptin deficient animals.  We are currently pursuing the molecular mechanisms by which leptin induces changes in behavior.

 

References:

• Segal-Lieberman G, Bradley RL, Kokkotou E, Carlson M, Trobmly DJ, Wang X, Bates S, Myers MG Jr., Flier JS, Maratos-Flier E. Melanin-concentrating hormone is a critical mediator of the leptin deficient phenotype. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003;100(17):10085-90.
• Fulton S, Pissio P, et al. (2006) Leptin regulation of the mesoaccumbens dopamine pathway.  Neuron 51(6):811-22.
• Pissio P, Frank L, et al. (2008)  Dysregulation of the mesolimbic dopamine system and reward in MCH-/-mice.  Biol Psychiatry 64(3):184-91.
• Maratos-Flier E (2008)  The long reach of leptin.  Nat Med 14(6):604-6.

Next faculty member (Richard Masland)

Previous faculty member (Jarema Malicki)