Dr. Yorek
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Mark A. Yorek, PhD
Investigator, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss
Phone: (319) 338-0581 Ext. 7696
Email: Mark-Yorek@uiowa.edu
601 Hwy 6 West (151)
Iowa City, IA 52246-2208
Education
BS, Biology/Chemistry, Bemidji State University
PhD, Biochemistry, University of North Dakota
Postdoctoral, Biochemistry, University of Iowa
Research Interests
Dr. Yorek’s research focuses primarily on vascular and neural disease related to obesity and diabetes. They are interested in determining the etiology of peripheral neuropathy associated with these conditions. An overall goal of their studies is to determine the role of vascular dysfunction in obesity- and diabetic-neuropathy and the mechanism responsible for vascular dysfunction. Briefly, they have developed the methodology to examine the effect of diabetes on vasodilation of blood vessels that provide circulation to the sciatic nerve and the retina. Combined with the examination of motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity, neuronal blood flow in the sciatic nerve, and sensory nerve perception they are investigating the etiology of diabetic neuropathy with emphasis on vascular disease. In addition, they have also been conducting studies examining impairment of innervation of the cornea as a marker for obesity- and diabetic-neuropathy. Recently, they have developed a novel sensitivity assay for corneal nerves that can be used in animals as well as humans. Using animal models of obesity and diabetes they have demonstrated that loss of corneal nerves function and density especially those innervating the cornea epithelium occurs early in disease. They have also shown that in the sub-epithelial layer of the cornea early detection of nerve loss can be achieved by examining the region of the inferior whorl. These results have translational importance for the early detection of obesity- and diabetic-neuropathy that could be used for examining the progression and repair of neuropathy in patients. In this regard they have been conducting studies in the use of menhaden oil (fish oil), a natural source for n-3 fatty acids, for the treatment of obesity- and diabetic-neuropathy. They have demonstrated that treating rodent models of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes with menhaden oil improves insulin resistance and vascular and neural complications. They believe that the mechanism(s) responsible for the beneficial effects of menhaden oil is the reduction in the n-6 to n-3 fatty acid ratio and production of resolvins and neuroprotectin, metabolites of n-3 fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotection properties. Studies are ongoing to investigate the mechanism(s) responsible for the beneficial effects of fish oils in obesity and diabetes. In addition clinical studies are being designed to test the benefits of fish oil treatment in subjects with diabetes. The Yorek laboratory is also collaborating with Novartis and Novo Nordisk testing new compounds for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.
Highlighted Publications
Yorek M. Treatment for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: What have we Learned from Animal Models?. Curr Diabetes Rev. 2022;18(5):e040521193121. doi: 10.2174/1573399817666210504101609. Review. PubMed PMID: 33949936; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8965779.
Coppey L, Obrosov A, Shevalye H, Davidson E, Paradee W, Yorek MA. Characterization of Mice Ubiquitously Overexpressing Human 15-Lipoxygenase-1: Effect of Diabetes on Peripheral Neuropathy and Treatment with Menhaden Oil. J Diabetes Res. 2021;2021:5564477. doi: 10.1155/2021/5564477. eCollection 2021. PubMed PMID: 33816635; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7987465.
Coppey L, Davidson E, Shevalye H, Obrosov A, Torres M, Yorek MA. Progressive Loss of Corneal Nerve Fibers and Sensitivity in Rats Modeling Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Is Reversible with Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intervention: Supporting Cornea Analyses as a Marker for Peripheral Neuropathy and Treatment. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2020;13:1367-1384. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S247571. eCollection 2020. PubMed PMID: 32425569; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7189026.
University of Iowa Profile https://medicine.uiowa.edu/internalmedicine/profile/mark-yorek
