Pascal Imbeault

In addition to being a key storage site of energy reserves, adipose tissue is now recognised as a crucial player involved in diverse biological functions. The long-term objective of Dr. Imbeault’s research program is to understand the regulation of growth and secretory function of adipose tissue using an integrative approach from the molecular and cell levels to humans. His research activities focus on how environmental influences (ex. exercise and nutritional interventions, hypoxia, pollutants, etc.) impact adipose tissue metabolism. Overall, this works will provide further conceptual background in the effort of understanding the pathophysiology, treatment and prevention of obesity and its related disorders.

• Canada Obesity
• Institut du savoir Montfort

• Adipose tissue metabolism

Ongoing research

Beyond being the primary storage site for excess energy, white adipose tissue is an organ involved in a wide range of biological functions. To maintain these functions, white adipose tissue has intrinsic oxygen demand that must be met. Using primary cell culture and/or adipose tissue biopsy, we investigate how a reduction in oxygen availability (or hypoxia) affects adipose tissue metabolism and secretory functions. This work will provide further insights into the cellular and systemic responses of humans to natural environmental stress as well as pathological conditions (ex. sleep apnea) of oxygen deprivation.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a wide range of synthetic chemicals that have an intrinsic resistance to natural degradation. A large fraction of these environmental contaminants accumulate for years in adipose tissue, the most important lipid-storage site of the human body. We study the effect of POPs exposure on adipose tissue functions to better understand the established link between POP exposure and the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes in humans.

• Mauger J-F, Chassé É, Mahat B, Lindon C, Bordenave N, Imbeault P. The effect of acute continuous hypoxia on triglyceride levels in constantly fed healthy men. Frontiers in Physiology 2019 Jun 18;10:752. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00752. eCollection 2019.
• Yahfoufi N, El Amine Z, Mauger J-F and Imbeault P. White adipose tissue metabolic responses to hypoxia. In: Patel V.B. (Eds). The Molecular Nutrition of Fats, Elsevier, 470 pages. Chapter 16, p. 213-223, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811297-7.00016-0
• Pépin A, Stanhope KH and Imbeault P. Are fruit juices healthier than sugar-sweetened beverages? A review. Nutrients. 2019 May 2;11(5). pii: E1006. doi: 10.3390/nu11051006.
• Imbeault P, Ravanelli N, Chevrier J. Can POPs be substantially popped out through sweat? Environmental International 111:131-132, 2018.
• Ravanelli N, Coombs GB, Imbeault P and Jay O. Maximum skin wettedness following aerobic training with and without heat acclimation. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 50(2): 299-307, 2018. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001439.
• Coombs GB, Cramer MN, Ravanelli N, Imbeault P and Jay O. Thermoregulatory responses to exercise at a fixed rate of heat production are not altered by acute hypoxia. Journal of Applied Physiology May 1;122(5):1198-1207, 2017. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00829.2016.
• Mahat B, Chassé É, Mauger J-F and Imbeault P. Effects of acute hypoxia on human adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase activity and lipolysis. Journal of Translational Medicine 14:212 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-016-0965-y, 2016.
• Seabert TA, Pal S, Pinet BM, Haman F, Robidoux MA, Imbeault P, Krümmel EM, Kimpe LE and Blais JM. Elevated contaminants contrasted with potential benefit of omega-3 fatty acids in wild food consumers of two remote First Nations communities in northern Ontario, Canada. PLoS One 9(3): e90351, 2014.
• Myre M and Imbeault P. Persistent organic pollutants meet adipose tissue hypoxia: does cross-talk contribute to inflammation during obesity? Obesity Reviews 15(1): 19-28, 2014.
• Pal S, Blais JM, Robidoux MA, Haman F, Krümmel EM, Seabert T and Imbeault P. The association of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance/secretion with persistent organic pollutants in two First Nations communities in northern Ontario. Diabetes and Metabolism 39(6): 497-504, 2013.
• Babinsky M & Imbeault P. Le regain pondéral après une restriction calorique: des adipocytes persistants. Nutrition, science en évolution, 10(3): 21-22, 2013.
• Gagnon-Arpin I, Makvandi E, Imbeault P, Batal M and Bouchard L. Le surplus de poids chez les francophones et les anglophones. Revue canadienne de santé publique 104 (6 Suppl 1): S21-25, 2013.
• Imbeault P, Makvandi E, Batal M, Gagnon-Arpin I, Grenier J, Chomienne MH and Bouchard L. Physical inactivity among Francophones and Anglophones in Canada. Canadian Journal of Public Health 104 (6 Suppl 1): S26-30, 2013.
• Imbeault P, Findlay CS, Robidoux MA, Haman F, Blais JM, Tremblay A, Springthorpe S, Pal S, Seabert T, Krümmel EM, Maal-Bared R, Tetro JA, Pandey S, Sattar S and Filion LG. Dysregulation of cytokine response in Canadian First Nations communities: is there an association with persistent organic pollutant levels? PLoS One 7(7): e39931, 2012.
• Chapados NA, Casimiro C, Robidoux MA, Haman F, Batal M, Blais JM and Imbeault P. Increased proliferative effect of organochlorine compounds on human preadipocytes. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 365(1-2): 275-278, 2012.
• Drapeau S, Doucet É, Rabasa-Lhoret R, Brochu M, Prud’homme D and Imbeault P. Improvement in insulin sensitivity after weight loss does not affect hyperinsulinemia-induced reduction in total and high molecular weight adiponectin: a MONET study. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism 36(2): 191-200, 2011.
• Imbeault P, Haman F, Blais JM, Pal S, Seabert T, Krümmel EM and Robidoux MA. Obesity and type 2 diabetes prevalence in adults from two remote First Nations communities in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Journal of Obesity 2011: 267509-267514, 2011.
• Imbeault P, Dépault I and Haman F. Cold exposure increases adiponectin levels in men. Metabolism 58(4): 552-559, 2009.
• Imbeault P. Environmental influences on adiponectin levels in humans. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 32: 505-511, 2007.