Dr. Ákos Kenéz trained as a veterinarian and has a PhD in animal physiology from the University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany. Currently, he is an assistant professor at the City University of Hong Kong and he leads the physiology teaching in the bachelor of veterinary medicine programme of the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences. His research is focused on the comparative physiology of metabolic disorders, bringing together the latest advancements in human biomedical research with current issues in animal sciences. His publications address issues on metabolic dysregulation in chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and adiposity. His latest work follows a mass spectrometry metabolomics-based approach to elucidate cellular mechanisms driving metabolic health and disease. The primary aim of these studies is to identify biomarkers of metabolic health in food-producing animals and define nutritional strategies to sustain metabolic integrity while achieving goals of enhanced production efficiency.
Enhanced dietary energy and protein intake is key to maximising growth performance in cattle. However, a chronic nutrient surplus is documented to trigger obesity, promote insulin resistance and induce low-grade inflammation, ultimately disrupting metabolic integrity. The aim of this research is to uncover the molecular pathways driving metabolic dysregulation due to dietary oversupply in Holstein cattle. Our study investigated the alterations in the liver, muscle and adipose tissue as a response to increased dietary energy and protein supply. In particular, we studied the insulin signalling protein expression and phosphorylation and their associations with the sphingolipid metabolome in these metabolically active tissues. Our findings revealed a similar regulatory network between ceramide accumulation and insulin receptor and protein kinase B expression as previously demonstrated in human type 2 diabetes and point to the initiation of a self-reinforcing cycle of metabolic inflammation, clinically appearing as laminitis. Beyond elucidating physiological mechanisms and proposing refined nutritional strategies, we further discuss the implications for animal welfare and food safety under the One Medicine approach.