Batuhan Yenilmez, PhD
Assistant Professor of Molecular Medicine
PhD, Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
MSc, Bioengineering, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey
BSc, Bioengineering, Sabanci University
Welcome to the Yenilmez Lab
We are dedicated to developing next-generation RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics to address critical unmet needs in cardiometabolic health.
Our research focuses on innovative strategies to combat complex conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Current projects in the lab include:
- Designing RNAi molecules with selective adipose tissue activity to silence multiple metabolic genes and improve outcomes in obese mouse models and patient-derived mature adipocytes.
- Identifying anti-fibrotic microRNAs and engineering hyperactive, chemically modified mimics for translational application in fibrotic diseases.
- Pioneering dual-targeting RNAi approaches for MASH, enabling simultaneous modulation of hepatocyte and stellate cell pathways with a single therapeutic agent.
- Investigating the metabolic drivers of pulmonary fibrosis to uncover novel therapeutic targets and pathways.
Our lab aims to redefine the possibilities for RNA-based treatment of cardiometabolic and fibrotic diseases through a combination of molecular innovation and translational focus.
Overall Strategy Against MASH
Selected Publications
Yenilmez B, Harney S, DiMarzio C, Kelly M, Min K, Echeverria D, Bramato BM, Jackson SO, Reddig K, Kim JK, Khvorova A, Czech MP. Dual targeting of hepatocyte DGAT2 and stellate cell FASN alleviates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2023 Jul 5:2023.07.05.547848. doi: 10.1101/2023.07.05.547848. PMID: 37461560; PMCID: PMC10350091.
Min K, Yenilmez B, Kelly M, Echeverria D, Elleby M, Lifshitz LM, Raymond N, Tsagkaraki E, Harney SM, DiMarzio C, McHugh N, Bramato B, Morrision B, Rothstein JD, Khvorova A, Czech MP. (2023) Lactate transporter MCT1 in hepatic stellate cells promotes fibrotic collagen expression in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. eLife https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.89136.1
Yenilmez B, Kelly M, Zhang GF, Wetoska N, Ilkayeva OR, Min K, Rowland L, DiMarzio C, He W, Raymond N, Lifshitz L, Pan M, Han X, Xie J, Friedline RH, Kim JK, Gao G, Herman MA, Newgard CB, Czech MP. Paradoxical activation of transcription factor SREBP1c and de novo lipogenesis by hepatocyte-selective ATP-citrate lyase depletion in obese mice. J Biol Chem. 2022 Oct;298(10):102401. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102401. Epub 2022 Aug 18. PMID: 35988648; PMCID: PMC9490592.
Yenilmez B, Wetoska N, Kelly M, Echeverria D, Min K, Lifshitz L, Alterman JF, Hassler MR, Hildebrand S, DiMarzio C, McHugh N, Vangjeli L, Sousa J, Pan M, Han X, Brehm MA, Khvorova A, Czech MP. An RNAi therapeutic targeting hepatic DGAT2 in a genetically obese mouse model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. MolTher. 2021 Nov 11:S1525-0016(21)00578-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.11.007. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34774753.
Guilherme A, Yenilmez B, Bedard AH, Henriques F, Liu D, Lee A, Goldstein L, Kelly M, Nicoloro SM, Chen M, Weinstein L, Collins S, Czech MP. Control of adipocyte thermogenesis and lipogenesis through β3- adrenergic and thyroid hormone signal integration. Cell Rep. 2020 May 5;31(5):107598. PMID: 32375048
Shen Y, Cohen JL, Nicoloro SM, Kelly M, Yenilmez B, Henriques F, Tsagkaraki E, Edwards YJK, Hu X, Friedline RH, Kim JK, Czech MP. CRISPR-delivery particles targeting nuclear receptor-interacting protein 1 (Nrip1) in adipose cells to enhance energy expenditure. J Biol Chem. 2018 Nov 2;293(44):17291-17305. doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.004554. Epub 2018 Sep 6. PMID: 30190322; PMCID: PMC6222111.
Bauer R, Sasaki M., Cohen D, Cui J, Smith M, Yenilmez B, Steger D, Rader D. Tribbles 1 regulates hepatic lipogenesis through post-transcriptional regulation of C/EBPα. J Clin Invest. 2015;125(10):3809- 3818. doi:10.1172/JCI77095.
Bauer R, Yenilmez B, Rader D. Tribbles1: A novel regulator of lipid metabolism in humans. Biochemical Society Transactions Oct 09, 2015, 43 (5) 1079-1084; DOI: 10.1042/BST20150101