Faculty

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David M Merrick, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism)

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Department: Medicine

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1f Graduate Group Affiliations 8

Cell and Molecular Biology

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Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism
46 Smilow Center for Translational Research, 12th Floor, Room 179
3e 3400 Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104

2e Office: 215-746-8520
3e Lab: 215-746-8520
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13 Education:
21 9 B.S. 1d (Cellular Biology) c
31 Johns Hopkins University, 2004.
21 7 MD 1e (Internal Medicine) c
30 Yale School of Medicine, 2013.
21 8 PhD 19 (Cell Biology) c
30 Yale School of Medicine, 2013.
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Links
5c Lab Website
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5 3 3 92 Permanent link
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b6 > Perelman School of Medicine > Faculty > Details a

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Description of Clinical Expertise

2d Medical Management of Obesity
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Description of Research Expertise

13f The Merrick laboratory is located within the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (IDOM) at the University of Pennsylvania / Perelman School of Medicine and is affiliated with the Department of Medicine Division of Endocrinology as well as the Cell Biology, Physiology and Metabolism Program.
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1dd Obesity and the metabolic syndrome represent a profound public health challenge for which there are few effective therapeutics. Fundamentally, obesity arises in the setting of nutrient excess, which stimulates adipose tissue expansion. The healthy growth of adipose tissue depends on the capacity of progenitor cells to undergo de novo adipogenesis. However, the cellular hierarchy and mechanisms governing adipocyte progenitor lineage allocation are poorly understood.
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336 Our research program is focused on understanding the cells types, niche locations and intracellular signaling pathways that regulate mesenchymal progenitor cell activity. Using cutting-edge approaches including single-cell RNA transcriptomics, CRISPR-based rapid mouse model generation and in-vivo lineage tracing, we have discovered several novel progenitor cell populations including Interstitial Progenitor Cells (IPCs) and connective-tissue resident macrophages. IPCs are multipotent progenitors, which can give rise to committed preadipocytes and mature adipocytes. Importantly, we found that IPCs and connective tissue macrophages cohabit the Reticular Interstitium (RI), a fibrous tissue that envelops many organs including adipose depots and represents a novel anatomical niche for mesenchymal progenitors.
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15d Mesenchymal progenitors represent a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity and diabetes. Directing the differentiation of progenitor cells away from a deleterious pro-fibrotic phenotype and towards a metabolically beneficial fate could significantly improve outcomes for patients suffering from the consequences of obesity.
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Selected Publications

e7 Chen Y, Liu L, Calhoun R, Cheng L, Merrick D, Steger DJ, Seale P: Transcriptional regulation of adipocyte lipolysis by IRF2BP2. Sci Adv 11(1): 5963, Jan 2025.

ee Traynor S, Bhattacharya S, Batmanov K, Cheng L, Weller A, Moore N, Flesher C, Merrick D: Developmental regulation of dermal adipose tissue by BCL11b. Genes Dev 2024.

157 Paneru BD, Chini J, McCright SJ, DeMarco N, Miller J, Joannas LD, Henao-Mejia J, Titchenell PM, Merrick DM, Lim HW, Lazar MA, Hill DA: Myeloid-derived miR-6236 potentiates adipocyte insulin signaling and prevents hyperglycemia during obesity. Nature Communications 2024.

119 David Merrick: She didn’t start the fire: Mammary duct epithelial cells suppress adipocyte thermogenesis. Cell Metabolism 35(10): 1679-1680, Oct 2023 Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.09.007. PMID: 37793344.

1fa Jacob K Sterling, Bailey Baumann, Sierra Foshe, Andrew Voigt, Samyuktha Guttha, Ahab Alnemri, Sam J McCright, Mingyao Li, Randy J Zauhar, Sandra R Montezuma, Rebecca J Kapphahn, Venkata R M Chavali, David A Hill, Deborah A Ferrington, Dwight Stambolian, Robert F Mullins, David Merrick, Joshua L Dunaief: Inflammatory adipose activates a nutritional immunity pathway leading to retinal dysfunction. Cell Rep 14(39): 110942, Jun 2022.

162 Stefkovich M, Traynor S, Cheng L, Merrick D, Seale P.: Dpp4+ interstitial progenitor cells contribute to basal and high fat diet-induced adipogenesis. Mol Metab 54(101357), December 2021 Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101357. Epub 2021 Oct 15. PMID: 34662714; PMCID: PMC8581370.

ad Merrick D, Seale P.: Skinny Fat Cells Stimulate Wound Healing. Cell Stem Cell 26: 801-803, Jun 2020.

148 Merrick David, Sakers Alexander, Irgebay Zhazira, Okada Chihiro, Calvert Catherine, Morley Michael P, Percec Ivona, Seale Patrick: Identification of a mesenchymal progenitor cell hierarchy in adipose tissue. Science (New York, N.Y.) 364(6438), April 2019.

162 Merrick David, Mistry Kavita, Wu Jingshing, Gresko Nikolay, Baggs Julie E, Hogenesch John B, Sun Zhaoxia, Caplan Michael J: Polycystin-1 regulates bone development through an interaction with the transcriptional coactivator TAZ. Human molecular genetics 28(1): 16-30, January 2019.

17a Merrick D, Sakers A, Kim J, Irgebay Z, Seale P.: “Population Dynamics of Adipocyte Progenitors.” Kroc Lecture, (2018 and 2019)University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine and Department of Medicine Research Day, University of Pennsylvania, June 2018 March 2018 Notes: Poster Presentation.

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