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Edwards MM, Nguyen HK, Dodson AD, Herbertson AJ, Wolden-Hanson T, Wietecha T, Honeycutt MK, Slattery JD, O'Brien KD, Graham JL, Havel PJ, Mundinger TO, Sikkema C, Peskind ER, Ryu V, Taborsky GJ, Blevins JE. Sympathetic innervation of interscapular brown adipose tissue is not a predominant mediator of oxytocin-elicited reductions of body weight and adiposity in male diet-induced obese mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.29.596425. [PMID: 38854021 PMCID: PMC11160755 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies indicate that CNS administration of oxytocin (OT) reduces body weight in high fat diet-induced obese (DIO) rodents by reducing food intake and increasing energy expenditure (EE). We recently demonstrated that hindbrain (fourth ventricular [4V]) administration of OT elicits weight loss and elevates interscapular brown adipose tissue temperature (T IBAT , a surrogate measure of increased EE) in DIO mice. What remains unclear is whether OT-elicited weight loss requires increased sympathetic nervous system (SNS) outflow to IBAT. We hypothesized that OT-induced stimulation of SNS outflow to IBAT contributes to its ability to activate BAT and elicit weight loss in DIO mice. To test this hypothesis, we determined the effect of disrupting SNS activation of IBAT on the ability of 4V OT administration to increase T IBAT and elicit weight loss in DIO mice. We first determined whether bilateral surgical SNS denervation to IBAT was successful as noted by ≥ 60% reduction in IBAT norepinephrine (NE) content in DIO mice. NE content was selectively reduced in IBAT at 1-, 6- and 7-weeks post-denervation by 95.9±2.0, 77.4±12.7 and 93.6±4.6% ( P <0.05), respectively and was unchanged in inguinal white adipose tissue, pancreas or liver. We subsequently measured the effects of acute 4V OT (1, 5 µg ≈ 0.99, 4.96 nmol) on T IBAT in DIO mice following sham or bilateral surgical SNS denervation to IBAT. We found that the high dose of 4V OT (5 µg ≈ 4.96 nmol) elevated T IBAT similarly in sham mice as in denervated mice. We subsequently measured the effects of chronic 4V OT (16 nmol/day over 29 days) or vehicle infusions on body weight, adiposity and food intake in DIO mice following sham or bilateral surgical denervation of IBAT. Chronic 4V OT reduced body weight by 5.7±2.23% and 6.6±1.4% in sham and denervated mice ( P <0.05), respectively, and this effect was similar between groups ( P =NS). OT produced corresponding reductions in whole body fat mass ( P <0.05). Together, these findings support the hypothesis that sympathetic innervation of IBAT is not necessary for OT-elicited increases in BAT thermogenesis and reductions of body weight and adiposity in male DIO mice.
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Sartorius AM, Rokicki J, Birkeland S, Bettella F, Barth C, de Lange AMG, Haram M, Shadrin A, Winterton A, Steen NE, Schwarz E, Stein DJ, Andreassen OA, van der Meer D, Westlye LT, Theofanopoulou C, Quintana DS. An evolutionary timeline of the oxytocin signaling pathway. Commun Biol 2024; 7:471. [PMID: 38632466 PMCID: PMC11024182 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06094-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a neuropeptide associated with both psychological and somatic processes like parturition and social bonding. Although oxytocin homologs have been identified in many species, the evolutionary timeline of the entire oxytocin signaling gene pathway has yet to be described. Using protein sequence similarity searches, microsynteny, and phylostratigraphy, we assigned the genes supporting the oxytocin pathway to different phylostrata based on when we found they likely arose in evolution. We show that the majority (64%) of genes in the pathway are 'modern'. Most of the modern genes evolved around the emergence of vertebrates or jawed vertebrates (540 - 530 million years ago, 'mya'), including OXTR, OXT and CD38. Of those, 45% were under positive selection at some point during vertebrate evolution. We also found that 18% of the genes in the oxytocin pathway are 'ancient', meaning their emergence dates back to cellular organisms and opisthokonta (3500-1100 mya). The remaining genes (18%) that evolved after ancient and before modern genes were classified as 'medium-aged'. Functional analyses revealed that, in humans, medium-aged oxytocin pathway genes are highly expressed in contractile organs, while modern genes in the oxytocin pathway are primarily expressed in the brain and muscle tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina M Sartorius
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Institute of Clinical Medicine and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jaroslav Rokicki
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Institute of Clinical Medicine and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Centre of Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Siri Birkeland
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Francesco Bettella
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Institute of Clinical Medicine and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Medical Genetics, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Claudia Barth
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Institute of Clinical Medicine and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ann-Marie G de Lange
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Marit Haram
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Mental Health and Suicide, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alexey Shadrin
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Institute of Clinical Medicine and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Adriano Winterton
- Department of Child Health and Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nils Eiel Steen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Institute of Clinical Medicine and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Emanuel Schwarz
- Hector Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Dan J Stein
- SA MRC Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Institute of Clinical Medicine and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dennis van der Meer
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Institute of Clinical Medicine and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Lars T Westlye
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Institute of Clinical Medicine and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Daniel S Quintana
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Institute of Clinical Medicine and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
- NevSom, Department of Rare Disorders, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
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3
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Li E, Wang L, Wang D, Chi J, Lin Z, Smith GI, Klein S, Cohen P, Rosen ED. Control of lipolysis by a population of oxytocinergic sympathetic neurons. Nature 2024; 625:175-180. [PMID: 38093006 PMCID: PMC10952125 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06830-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT), a nine-amino-acid peptide produced in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary, has well-known actions in parturition, lactation and social behaviour1, and has become an intriguing therapeutic target for conditions such as autism and schizophrenia2. Exogenous OXT has also been shown to have effects on body weight, lipid levels and glucose homeostasis1,3, suggesting that it may also have therapeutic potential for metabolic disease1,4. It is unclear, however, whether endogenous OXT participates in metabolic homeostasis. Here we show that OXT is a critical regulator of adipose tissue lipolysis in both mice and humans. In addition, OXT serves to facilitate the ability of β-adrenergic agonists to fully promote lipolysis. Most surprisingly, the relevant source of OXT in these metabolic actions is a previously unidentified subpopulation of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive sympathetic neurons. Our data reveal that OXT from the peripheral nervous system is an endogenous regulator of adipose and systemic metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erwei Li
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luhong Wang
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daqing Wang
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jingyi Chi
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Laboratory of Molecular Metabolism, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zeran Lin
- Laboratory of Molecular Metabolism, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gordon I Smith
- Center for Human Nutrition, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Samuel Klein
- Center for Human Nutrition, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Paul Cohen
- Laboratory of Molecular Metabolism, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Evan D Rosen
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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4
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Li J, Lyu L, Wen H, Li Y, Wang X, Yao Y, Qi X. Estrogen regulates the transcription of guppy isotocin receptors. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 269:110895. [PMID: 37611819 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2023.110895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Estrogen can regulate oxytocin receptor expression, which is mediated through estrogen receptors (ESRs) in mammals, initiating parturition. To further study the reproductive physiological process of ovoviviparous teleosts, guppies (Poecilia reticulata) were employed as the research model in the present study to identify the transcriptional regulation of ESRs on isotocin receptors (itrs). Since guppy embryos develop inside the ovary, in the present study, the levels of itrs in the ovarian stroma of pregnant female guppies treated with estradiol (E2) in vitro were tested. E2 increased only itr2 mRNA levels 3 h post-treatment, with no variation in itr1 mRNA expression levels. In vivo, pregnant guppies were immersed in different concentrations of E2, significantly increasing the relative expression levels of itr1 and itr2 in the ovary. Moreover, based on dual-fluorescence in situ hybridization (ISH), both esrs and itrs mRNAs were localized in the same cells around the embryos in the ovary. To further investigate the regulation of itr transcription by estrogen, a luciferase reporter assay was performed, and the results demonstrated that E2 treatment could induce E2-dependent repression of luciferase activity in cells transfected with ESR1. However, overexpression of ESR2a or ESR2b caused a robust ligand-independent increase in itr2 promoter activity. Deletion analysis of the itr2 promoter indicated that there were novel potential ESR transcription factor-binding sites at -360 bp upstream of the 5' end of the itr2 promoter. Overall, our study provided novel results regarding the ESRs mediating the onset of parturition in ovoviviparous teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianshuang Li
- College of Fishery, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266000, PR China
| | - Likang Lyu
- College of Fishery, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266000, PR China
| | - Haishen Wen
- College of Fishery, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266000, PR China
| | - Yun Li
- College of Fishery, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266000, PR China
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- College of Fishery, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266000, PR China
| | - Yijia Yao
- College of Fishery, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266000, PR China
| | - Xin Qi
- College of Fishery, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266000, PR China.
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5
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Liyanagamage DSNK, McColl LK, Glasgow LNM, Levine AS, Olszewski PK. Effect of intranasal oxytocin on palatable food consumption and c-Fos immunoreactivity in relevant brain areas in rats. Physiol Behav 2023; 271:114318. [PMID: 37543105 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Peripheral and central injections of oxytocin (OT) in laboratory animals decrease eating for energy and palatability, but the hypophagic response is dependent on the administration route. Human studies rely on intranasal (IN) administration of the peptide, the route underutilized in OT animal feeding studies thus far. Therefore, we examined the effect of IN OT on various aspects of food consumption in rats: (a) overnight deprivation-induced standard chow intake, (b) episodic (2-h) consumption of calorie-dense and palatable high-fat high-sugar (HFHS) chow, (c) 2-h episodic intake of palatable and calorie-dilute sucrose and Intralipid solutions, and (d) 2-h sucrose solution intake in rats habituated to ingesting this solution daily for several weeks. Finally, we assessed c-Fos changes in response to the acute IN OT administration in rats habituated to daily sugar consumption. We found that IN 20μg OT decreased deprivation-induced intake of standard chow and HFHS chow in nondeprived rats without affecting water consumption. IN OT also reduced 2-hour episodic fluid consumption of sucrose, but not Intralipid. In the habitual sugar consumption paradigm, acute IN OT diminished sucrose solution intake in animals accustomed to the 2-hour/day sucrose meal regimen. In rats habitually consuming sucrose, IN OT altered c-Fos immunoreactivity in brain areas related to energy homeostasis and reward, including the central nucleus of the amygdala, the hypothalamic paraventricular and the arcuate nuclei. We conclude that IN OT is an effective appetite suppressant for carbohydrate/sugar diets in rats and its effects involve feeding-related brain circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura K McColl
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Lisa N M Glasgow
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Allen S Levine
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States of America
| | - Pawel K Olszewski
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand; Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States of America; Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States of America.
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6
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Roth CL, Zenno A. Treatment of hypothalamic obesity in people with hypothalamic injury: new drugs are on the horizon. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1256514. [PMID: 37780616 PMCID: PMC10533996 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1256514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypothalamic obesity (HO) is a complex and rare disorder affecting multiple regulatory pathways of energy intake and expenditure in the brain as well as the regulation of the autonomic nervous system and peripheral hormonal signaling. It can be related to monogenic obesity syndromes which often affect the central leptin-melanocortin pathways or due to injury of the hypothalamus from pituitary and hypothalamic tumors, such as craniopharyngioma, surgery, trauma, or radiation to the hypothalamus. Traditional treatments of obesity, such as lifestyle intervention and specific diets, are still a therapeutic cornerstone, but often fail to result in meaningful and sustained reduction of body mass index. This review will give an update on pharmacotherapies of HO related to hypothalamic injury. Recent obesity drug developments are promising for successful obesity intervention outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian L. Roth
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Anna Zenno
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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7
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Becetti I, Bwenyi EL, de Araujo IE, Ard J, Cryan JF, Farooqi IS, Ferrario CR, Gluck ME, Holsen LM, Kenny PJ, Lawson EA, Lowell BB, Schur EA, Stanley TL, Tavakkoli A, Grinspoon SK, Singhal V. The Neurobiology of Eating Behavior in Obesity: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets: A Report from the 23rd Annual Harvard Nutrition Obesity Symposium. Am J Clin Nutr 2023; 118:314-328. [PMID: 37149092 PMCID: PMC10375463 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity is increasing at an alarming rate. The effectiveness of currently available strategies for the treatment of obesity (including pharmacologic, surgical, and behavioral interventions) is limited. Understanding the neurobiology of appetite and the important drivers of energy intake (EI) can lead to the development of more effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of obesity. Appetite regulation is complex and is influenced by genetic, social, and environmental factors. It is intricately regulated by a complex interplay of endocrine, gastrointestinal, and neural systems. Hormonal and neural signals generated in response to the energy state of the organism and the quality of food eaten are communicated by paracrine, endocrine, and gastrointestinal signals to the nervous system. The central nervous system integrates homeostatic and hedonic signals to regulate appetite. Although there has been an enormous amount of research over many decades regarding the regulation of EI and body weight, research is only now yielding potentially effective treatment strategies for obesity. The purpose of this article is to summarize the key findings presented in June 2022 at the 23rd annual Harvard Nutrition Obesity Symposium entitled "The Neurobiology of Eating Behavior in Obesity: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets." Findings presented at the symposium, sponsored by NIH P30 Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard, enhance our current understanding of appetite biology, including innovative techniques used to assess and systematically manipulate critical hedonic processes, which will shape future research and the development of therapeutics for obesity prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imen Becetti
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Esther L Bwenyi
- Metabolism Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ivan E de Araujo
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States; Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Jamy Ard
- Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States; Bariatric and Weight Management Center, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, NC, United States; Center on Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States; Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States; Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Sciences Center, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States; Maya Angelou Center for Healthy Equity, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - John F Cryan
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Ismaa Sadaf Farooqi
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Wellcome-Medical Research Council (MRC) Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Carrie R Ferrario
- Department of Pharmacology, Psychology Department (Biopsychology Area), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Marci E Gluck
- National Institutes of Health, Phoenix, AZ, United States; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, Obesity and Diabetes Clinical Research Section, Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Laura M Holsen
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Division of Women's Health, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Paul J Kenny
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States; Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Lawson
- Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Bradford B Lowell
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ellen A Schur
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Univeristy of Washington Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Univeristy of Washington Nutrition and Obesity Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Clinical and Translational Research Services Core, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Takara L Stanley
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Metabolism Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ali Tavakkoli
- Division of General and Gastrointestinal (GI) Surgery, Center for Weight Management and Wellness, Advanced Minimally Invasive Fellowship, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Steven K Grinspoon
- Metabolism Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Vibha Singhal
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Pediatric Endocrinology and Obesity Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Pediatric Program MGH Weight Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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8
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Becetti I, Singhal V, Nimmala S, Lee H, Lawson EA, Bredella MA, Misra M. Serum Oxytocin Levels Decrease 12 Months Following Sleeve Gastrectomy and Are Associated with Decreases in Lean Mass. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10144. [PMID: 37373292 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT), an anorexigenic hormone, is also bone anabolic. Further, OXT administration results in increases in lean mass (LM) in adults with sarcopenic obesity. We examine, for the first time, associations of OXT with body composition and bone endpoints in 25 youth 13-25 years old with severe obesity who underwent sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and 27 non-surgical controls (NS). Forty participants were female. Subjects underwent fasting blood tests for serum OXT and DXA for areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and body composition. At baseline, SG vs. NS had higher median body mass index (BMI) but did not differ for age or OXT levels. Over 12 months, SG vs. NS had greater reductions in BMI, LM, and fat mass (FM). OXT decreased in SG vs. NS 12 months post-SG. While baseline OXT predicted a 12-month BMI change in SG, decreases in OXT levels 12 months post-SG were not associated with decreases in weight or BMI. In SG, decreases in OXT were positively associated with decreases in LM but not with decreases in FM or aBMD. Loss of LM, a strong predictor of BMD, after bariatric surgery may reduce functional and muscular capacity. OXT pathways may be targeted to prevent LM loss following SG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imen Becetti
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Mass General for Children and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Vibha Singhal
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Mass General for Children and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Pediatric Program, MGH Weight Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Supritha Nimmala
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Hang Lee
- Biostatistics Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Lawson
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Miriam A Bredella
- Department of Radiology, Musculoskeletal Imaging and Interventions, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Madhusmita Misra
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Mass General for Children and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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9
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Ahmed IA, Liu JJ, Gieniec KA, Bair-Marshall CJ, Adewakun AB, Hetzler BE, Arp CJ, Khatri L, Vanwalleghem GC, Seidenberg AT, Cowin P, Trauner D, Chao MV, Davis FM, Tsien RW, Froemke RC. Optopharmacological tools for precise spatiotemporal control of oxytocin signaling in the central nervous system and periphery. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2715993. [PMID: 37034806 PMCID: PMC10081362 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2715993/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin is a neuropeptide critical for maternal physiology and social behavior, and is thought to be dysregulated in several neuropsychiatric disorders. Despite the biological and neurocognitive importance of oxytocin signaling, methods are lacking to activate oxytocin receptors with high spatiotemporal precision in the brain and peripheral mammalian tissues. Here we developed and validated caged analogs of oxytocin which are functionally inert until cage release is triggered by ultraviolet light. We examined how focal versus global oxytocin application affected oxytocin-driven Ca2+ wave propagation in mouse mammary tissue. We also validated the application of caged oxytocin in the hippocampus and auditory cortex with electrophysiological recordings in vitro, and demonstrated that oxytocin uncaging can accelerate the onset of mouse maternal behavior in vivo. Together, these results demonstrate that optopharmacological control of caged peptides is a robust tool with spatiotemporal precision for modulating neuropeptide signaling throughout the brain and body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismail A. Ahmed
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Jing-Jing Liu
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Krystyna A. Gieniec
- EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Chloe J. Bair-Marshall
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Ayomiposi B. Adewakun
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Belinda E. Hetzler
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Christopher J. Arp
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Latika Khatri
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Gilles C. Vanwalleghem
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE, Nordic-EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine. Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Alec T. Seidenberg
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Pamela Cowin
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Dermatology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, NY 10003, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Moses V. Chao
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Felicity M. Davis
- EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Richard W. Tsien
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Robert C. Froemke
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
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10
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Asker M, Krieger JP, Liles A, Tinsley IC, Borner T, Maric I, Doebley S, Furst CD, Börchers S, Longo F, Bhat YR, De Jonghe BC, Hayes MR, Doyle RP, Skibicka KP. Peripherally restricted oxytocin is sufficient to reduce food intake and motivation, while CNS entry is required for locomotor and taste avoidance effects. Diabetes Obes Metab 2023; 25:856-877. [PMID: 36495318 PMCID: PMC9987651 DOI: 10.1111/dom.14937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Oxytocin (OT) has a well-established role in reproductive behaviours; however, it recently emerged as an important regulator of energy homeostasis. In addition to central nervous system (CNS), OT is found in the plasma and OT receptors (OT-R) are found in peripheral tissues relevant to energy balance regulation. Here, we aim to determine whether peripheral OT-R activation is sufficient to alter energy intake and expenditure. METHODS AND RESULTS We first show that systemic OT potently reduced food intake and food-motivated behaviour for a high-fat reward in male and female rats. As it is plausible that peripherally, intraperitoneally (IP) injected OT crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to produce some of the metabolic effects within the CNS, we screened, with a novel fluorescently labelled-OT (fAF546-OT, Roxy), for the presence of IP-injected Roxy in CNS tissue relevant to feeding control and compared such with BBB-impermeable fluorescent OT-B12 (fCy5-OT-B12; BRoxy). While Roxy did penetrate the CNS, BRoxy did not. To evaluate the behavioural and thermoregulatory impact of exclusive activation of peripheral OT-R, we generated a novel BBB-impermeable OT (OT-B12 ), with equipotent binding at OT-R in vitro. In vivo, IP-injected OT and OT-B12 were equipotent at food intake suppression in rats of both sexes, suggesting that peripheral OT acts on peripheral OT-R to reduce feeding behaviour. Importantly, OT induced a potent conditioned taste avoidance, indistinguishable from that induced by LiCl, when applied peripherally. Remarkably, and in contrast to OT, OT-B12 did not induce any conditioned taste avoidance. Limiting the CNS entry of OT also resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of emesis in male shrews. While both OT and OT-B12 proved to have similar effects on body temperature, only OT resulted in home-cage locomotor depression. CONCLUSIONS Together our data indicate that limiting systemic OT CNS penetrance preserves the anorexic effects of the peptide and reduces the clinically undesired side effects of OT: emesis, taste avoidance and locomotor depression. Thus, therapeutic targeting of peripheral OT-R may be a viable strategy to achieve appetite suppression with better patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Asker
- Department of Physiology/Metabolic Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for molecular and translational medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jean-Philippe Krieger
- Department of Physiology/Metabolic Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Amber Liles
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Ian C Tinsley
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Tito Borner
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ivana Maric
- Department of Physiology/Metabolic Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sarah Doebley
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - C Daniel Furst
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Stina Börchers
- Department of Physiology/Metabolic Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for molecular and translational medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Francesco Longo
- Department of Physiology/Metabolic Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Yashaswini R Bhat
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bart C De Jonghe
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Matthew R Hayes
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Robert P Doyle
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
- Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Karolina P Skibicka
- Department of Physiology/Metabolic Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for molecular and translational medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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11
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Wronski ML, Plessow F, Kerem L, Asanza E, O'Donoghue ML, Stanford FC, Bredella MA, Torriani M, Soukas AA, Kheterpal A, Eddy KT, Holmes TM, Deckersbach T, Vangel M, Holsen LM, Lawson EA. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of 8-week intranasal oxytocin administration in adults with obesity: Rationale, study design, and methods. Contemp Clin Trials 2022; 122:106909. [PMID: 36087842 PMCID: PMC10329413 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2022.106909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity affects more than one-third of adults in the U.S., and effective treatment options are urgently needed. Oxytocin administration induces weight loss in animal models of obesity via effects on caloric intake, energy expenditure, and fat metabolism. We study intranasal oxytocin, an investigational drug shown to reduce caloric intake in humans, as a potential novel treatment for obesity. METHODS We report the rationale, design, methods, and biostatistical analysis plan of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of intranasal oxytocin for weight loss (primary endpoint) in adults with obesity. Participants (aged 18-45 years) were randomly allocated (1:1) to oxytocin (four times daily over eight weeks) versus placebo. Randomization was stratified by biological sex and BMI (30 to <35, 35 to <40, ≥40 kg/m2). We investigate the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of oxytocin administration in reducing body weight. Secondary endpoints include changes in resting energy expenditure, body composition, caloric intake, metabolic profile, and brain activation via functional magnetic resonance imaging in response to food images and during an impulse control task. Safety and tolerability (e.g., review of adverse events, vital signs, electrocardiogram, comprehensive metabolic panel) are assessed throughout the study and six weeks after treatment completion. RESULTS Sixty-one male and female participants aged 18-45 years were randomized (mean age 34 years, mean BMI 37 kg/m2). The study sample is diverse with 38% identifying as non-White and 20% Hispanic. CONCLUSION Investigating intranasal oxytocin's efficacy, safety, and mechanisms as an anti-obesity medication will advance the search for optimal treatment strategies for obesity and its associated severe sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Louis Wronski
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Translational Developmental Neuroscience Section, Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Franziska Plessow
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liya Kerem
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Elisa Asanza
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michelle L O'Donoghue
- TIMI Study Group, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fatima C Stanford
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Miriam A Bredella
- Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Martin Torriani
- Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexander A Soukas
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Arvin Kheterpal
- Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kamryn T Eddy
- Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tara M Holmes
- Translational and Clinical Research Centers, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thilo Deckersbach
- Diploma Hochschule/University of Applied Sciences, Bad Sooden-Allendorf, Germany
| | - Mark Vangel
- Biostatistics Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Laura M Holsen
- Division of Women's Health, Department of Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Lawson
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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12
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Tsingotjidou AS. Oxytocin: A Multi-Functional Biomolecule with Potential Actions in Dysfunctional Conditions; From Animal Studies and Beyond. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1603. [PMID: 36358953 PMCID: PMC9687803 DOI: 10.3390/biom12111603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a hormone secreted from definite neuroendocrine neurons located in specific nuclei in the hypothalamus (mainly from paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei), and its main known function is the contraction of uterine and/or mammary gland cells responsible for parturition and breastfeeding. Among the actions of the peripherally secreted oxytocin is the prevention of different degenerative disorders. These actions have been proven in cell culture and in animal models or have been tested in humans based on hypotheses from previous studies. This review presents the knowledge gained from the previous studies, displays the results from oxytocin intervention and/or treatment and proposes that the well described actions of oxytocin might be connected to other numerous, diverse actions of the biomolecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia S Tsingotjidou
- Laboratory of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54 124 Thessaloniki, Greece
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13
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Marazziti D, Diep PT, Carter S, Carbone MG. Oxytocin: An Old Hormone, A Novel Psychotropic Drug And Possible Use In Treating Psychiatric Disorders. Curr Med Chem 2022; 29:5615-5687. [PMID: 35894453 DOI: 10.2174/0929867329666220727120646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxytocin is a nonapeptide synthesized in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. Historically, this molecule has been involved as a key factor in the formation of infant attachment, maternal behavior and pair bonding and, more generally, in linking social signals with cognition, behaviors and reward. In the last decades, the whole oxytocin system has gained a growing interest as it was proposed to be implicated in etiopathogenesis of several neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. METHODS With the main goal of an in-depth understanding of the oxytocin role in the regulation of different functions and complex behaviors as well as its intriguing implications in different neuropsychiatric disorders, we performed a critical review of the current state of art. We carried out this work through PubMed database up to June 2021 with the search terms: 1) "oxytocin and neuropsychiatric disorders"; 2) "oxytocin and neurodevelopmental disorders"; 3) "oxytocin and anorexia"; 4) "oxytocin and eating disorders"; 5) "oxytocin and obsessive-compulsive disorder"; 6) "oxytocin and schizophrenia"; 7) "oxytocin and depression"; 8) "oxytocin and bipolar disorder"; 9) "oxytocin and psychosis"; 10) "oxytocin and anxiety"; 11) "oxytocin and personality disorder"; 12) "oxytocin and PTSD". RESULTS Biological, genetic, and epigenetic studies highlighted quality and quantity modifications in the expression of oxytocin peptide or in oxytocin receptor isoforms. These alterations would seem to be correlated with a higher risk of presenting several neuropsychiatric disorders belonging to different psychopathological spectra. Collaterally, the exogenous oxytocin administration has shown to ameliorate many neuropsychiatric clinical conditions. CONCLUSION Finally, we briefly analyzed the potential pharmacological use of oxytocin in patient with severe symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and immunoregulatory properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Marazziti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Italy.,Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Phuoc-Tan Diep
- Department of Histopathology, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Sue Carter
- Director Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Manuel G Carbone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Division of Psychiatry, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
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14
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Goh KK, Chen CYA, Wu TH, Chen CH, Lu ML. Crosstalk between Schizophrenia and Metabolic Syndrome: The Role of Oxytocinergic Dysfunction. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137092. [PMID: 35806096 PMCID: PMC9266532 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in persons with schizophrenia has spurred investigational efforts to study the mechanism beneath its pathophysiology. Early psychosis dysfunction is present across multiple organ systems. On this account, schizophrenia may be a multisystem disorder in which one organ system is predominantly affected and where other organ systems are also concurrently involved. Growing evidence of the overlapping neurobiological profiles of metabolic risk factors and psychiatric symptoms, such as an association with cognitive dysfunction, altered autonomic nervous system regulation, desynchrony in the resting-state default mode network, and shared genetic liability, suggest that metabolic syndrome and schizophrenia are connected via common pathways that are central to schizophrenia pathogenesis, which may be underpinned by oxytocin system dysfunction. Oxytocin, a hormone that involves in the mechanisms of food intake and metabolic homeostasis, may partly explain this piece of the puzzle in the mechanism underlying this association. Given its prosocial and anorexigenic properties, oxytocin has been administered intranasally to investigate its therapeutic potential in schizophrenia and obesity. Although the pathophysiology and mechanisms of oxytocinergic dysfunction in metabolic syndrome and schizophrenia are both complex and it is still too early to draw a conclusion upon, oxytocinergic dysfunction may yield a new mechanistic insight into schizophrenia pathogenesis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kah Kheng Goh
- Department of Psychiatry, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan; (K.K.G.); (C.Y.-A.C.); (C.-H.C.)
- Psychiatric Research Center, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan;
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Cynthia Yi-An Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan; (K.K.G.); (C.Y.-A.C.); (C.-H.C.)
- Psychiatric Research Center, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan;
| | - Tzu-Hua Wu
- Psychiatric Research Center, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan;
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hsin Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan; (K.K.G.); (C.Y.-A.C.); (C.-H.C.)
- Psychiatric Research Center, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan;
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Mong-Liang Lu
- Department of Psychiatry, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan; (K.K.G.); (C.Y.-A.C.); (C.-H.C.)
- Psychiatric Research Center, Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 116, Taiwan;
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
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15
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Angelidi AM, Belanger MJ, Kokkinos A, Koliaki CC, Mantzoros CS. Novel Noninvasive Approaches to the Treatment of Obesity: From Pharmacotherapy to Gene Therapy. Endocr Rev 2022; 43:507-557. [PMID: 35552683 PMCID: PMC9113190 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnab034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent insights into the pathophysiologic underlying mechanisms of obesity have led to the discovery of several promising drug targets and novel therapeutic strategies to address the global obesity epidemic and its comorbidities. Current pharmacologic options for obesity management are largely limited in number and of modest efficacy/safety profile. Therefore, the need for safe and more efficacious new agents is urgent. Drugs that are currently under investigation modulate targets across a broad range of systems and tissues, including the central nervous system, gastrointestinal hormones, adipose tissue, kidney, liver, and skeletal muscle. Beyond pharmacotherapeutics, other potential antiobesity strategies are being explored, including novel drug delivery systems, vaccines, modulation of the gut microbiome, and gene therapy. The present review summarizes the pathophysiology of energy homeostasis and highlights pathways being explored in the effort to develop novel antiobesity medications and interventions but does not cover devices and bariatric methods. Emerging pharmacologic agents and alternative approaches targeting these pathways and relevant research in both animals and humans are presented in detail. Special emphasis is given to treatment options at the end of the development pipeline and closer to the clinic (ie, compounds that have a higher chance to be added to our therapeutic armamentarium in the near future). Ultimately, advancements in our understanding of the pathophysiology and interindividual variation of obesity may lead to multimodal and personalized approaches to obesity treatment that will result in safe, effective, and sustainable weight loss until the root causes of the problem are identified and addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeliki M Angelidi
- Section of Endocrinology, VA Boston Healthcare System, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew J Belanger
- Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexander Kokkinos
- First Department of Propaedeutic Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Chrysi C Koliaki
- First Department of Propaedeutic Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Christos S Mantzoros
- Section of Endocrinology, VA Boston Healthcare System, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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16
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Du R, Bai Y, Li L. Biological networks in gestational diabetes mellitus: insights into the mechanism of crosstalk between long non-coding RNA and N 6-methyladenine modification. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:384. [PMID: 35505296 PMCID: PMC9066898 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04716-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common complications of pregnancy. The mechanism underlying the crosstalk between long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and N6-methyladenine (m6A) modification in GDM remain unclear. Methods We generated a lncRNA-mediated competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network using comprehensive data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, published data, and our preliminary findings. m6A-related lncRNAs were identified based on Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) analysis using our previous profiles. An integrated pipeline was established to constructed a m6A-related subnetwork thereby predicting the potential effects of the m6A-related lncRNAs. Results The ceRNA network was composed of 16 lncRNAs, 17 microRNAs, 184 mRNAs, and 338 edges. Analysis with the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database demonstrated that genes in the ceRNA network were primarily involved in the development and adverse outcomes of GDM, such as those in the fatty acid-metabolism pathway, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway, and thyroid hormone signaling pathway. Four m6A-related lncRNAs were involved in the ceRNA network, including LINC00667, LINC01087, AP000350.6, and CARMN. The m6A-related subnetwork was generated based on these four lncRNAs, their ceRNAs, and their related m6A regulators. Genes in the subnetwork were enriched in certain GDM-associated hormone (thyroid hormone and oxytocin) signaling pathways. LINC00667 was positively correlated with an m6A “reader” (YTHDF3; PCC = 0.95) and exhibited the highest node degree in the ceRNA network. RIP assays showed that YTHDF3 directly bind LINC00667. We further found that MYC possessed the highest node degree in a protein–protein interaction network and competed with LINC00667 for miR-33a-5p. qPCR analysis indicated that LINC00667, YTHDF3 and MYC levels were upregulated in the GDM placentas, while miR-33a-5p was downregulated. In a support-vector machine classifier, an m6A-related module composed of LINC00667, YTHDF3, MYC, and miR-33a-5p showed excellent classifying power for GDM in both the training and the testing dataset, with an accuracy of 76.19 and 71.43%, respectively. Conclusions Our results shed insights into the potential role of m6A-related lncRNAs in GDM and have implications in terms of novel therapeutic targets for GDM. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-022-04716-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runyu Du
- Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, China
| | - Yu Bai
- Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, China
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, China.
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Palanisamy A, Toftlund SA, Giri T, Strandberg-Larsen K, Lønfeldt NN. Birth with synthetic oxytocin and the risk of being overweight or obese during childhood. Pediatr Obes 2022; 17:e12871. [PMID: 34783173 DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the importance of oxytocinergic signalling for satiety regulation and energy balance, the impact of exposure to synthetic oxytocin during childbirth on obesity during childhood remains unknown. OBJECTIVES To examine the association between oxytocin exposure during labour and the risk of being overweight or obese during childhood. METHODS Synthetic oxytocin exposure data of mothers from the Danish Medical Birth Registry were linked with self-reported anthropometric data of their children from the Danish National Birth Cohort (5 months-11 years of age). Multinomial logistic regression and latent class growth analyses were performed to determine the association between oxytocin exposure and obesity during childhood. RESULTS With the exception of the normal weight-to-overweight group between ages 5 and 12 months, none of the other analyses revealed a significant association between synthetic oxytocin use and the risk of being overweight until the age of 11 years. Furthermore, latent class growth analysis did not reveal an association between oxytocin exposure at birth and the risk of being overweight or obese during childhood. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis of a large cohort of children who varied in their synthetic oxytocin exposure status at childbirth did not reveal an association between oxytocin exposure and the risk of childhood overweight/obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvind Palanisamy
- Department of Anesthesiology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Sarah A Toftlund
- Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tusar Giri
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Nicole N Lønfeldt
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre - Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Capital Region of Denmark, Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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18
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Abstract
Oxytocin and oxytocin receptors are synthesized in the periphery where paracrine/autocrine actions have been described alongside endocrine actions effected by central release of oxytocin from the posterior pituitary. In the female reproductive system, classical actions of uterine contraction and milk ejection from mammary glands are accompanied by actions in the ovaries where roles in steroidogenesis, follicle recruitment and ovulation have been described. Steroidogenesis, contractile activity, and gamete health are similarly affected by oxytocin in the male reproductive tract. In the cardiovascular system, a local oxytocinergic system appears to play an important cardio-protective role. This role is likely associated with emerging evidence that peripheral oxytocin is an important hormone in the endocrinology of glucose homeostasis due to its actions in adipose, the pancreas, and the largely ignored oxytocinergic systems of the adrenal glands and liver. Gene polymorphisms are shown to be associated with a number of reported traits, not least factors associated with metabolic syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Assinder
- Discipline of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
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19
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Mehdi SF, Pusapati S, Khenhrani RR, Farooqi MS, Sarwar S, Alnasarat A, Mathur N, Metz CN, LeRoith D, Tracey KJ, Yang H, Brownstein MJ, Roth J. Oxytocin and Related Peptide Hormones: Candidate Anti-Inflammatory Therapy in Early Stages of Sepsis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:864007. [PMID: 35572539 PMCID: PMC9102389 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.864007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening systemic inflammatory syndrome characterized by dysregulated host immunological responses to infection. Uncontrolled immune cell activation and exponential elevation in circulating cytokines can lead to sepsis, septic shock, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and death. Sepsis is associated with high re-hospitalization and recovery may be incomplete, with long term sequelae including post-sepsis syndrome. Consequently, sepsis continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality across the world. In our recent review of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), we noted that its major properties including promotion of fertility, parturition, and lactation were described over a century ago. By contrast, the anti-inflammatory properties of this hormone have been recognized only more recently. Vasopressin, a hormone best known for its anti-diuretic effect, also has anti-inflammatory actions. Surprisingly, vasopressin's close cousin, oxytocin, has broader and more potent anti-inflammatory effects than vasopressin and a larger number of pre-clinical studies supporting its potential role in limiting sepsis-associated organ damage. This review explores possible links between oxytocin and related octapeptide hormones and sepsis-related modulation of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Faizan Mehdi
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research/Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
| | - Suma Pusapati
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research/Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
| | - Raja Ram Khenhrani
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research/Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
| | - Muhammad Saad Farooqi
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research/Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
| | - Sobia Sarwar
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research/Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
| | - Ahmad Alnasarat
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research/Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
| | - Nimisha Mathur
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research/Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
| | - Christine Noel Metz
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research/Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
| | - Derek LeRoith
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Bone Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kevin J. Tracey
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research/Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
| | - Huan Yang
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research/Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
| | | | - Jesse Roth
- The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research/Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Jesse Roth,
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20
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Thakur P, Shrivastava R, Shrivastava VK. Effects of oxytocin and antagonist antidote atosiban on body weight and food intake of female mice, Mus musculus. Metabol Open 2021; 12:100146. [PMID: 34825159 PMCID: PMC8603196 DOI: 10.1016/j.metop.2021.100146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that oxytocin (OT) plays an important factor for the control of food intake, body weight, and energy metabolism in human and non-human animals. It has reported previously, the downregulation in oxytocin receptors (OTRs) expression is linked with the development of obesity, but exogenous OT reverse body weight and food intake in obese animal model. It is important to know that, whether intraperitoneal administration crosses blood brain barrier. Therefore, in the present experiment, we study the impact of intraperitoneal administration of synthetic OT 0.0116 mg/kg and antagonist atosiban (OTA) 1 mg/kg on food intake, and body weight of female mice, Mus musculus for different duration i.e. 30, 60, and 90 days. In this study, it was observed that there was significant decrease (p<0.001, one-way analysis of variance [ANOVA]) in the body weight (BW), food intake, and gonadosmatic indices (GSI) after the intraperitoneal exposure of OT at dose 0.0116 mg/kg up to 90 days and inhibits via antagonist atosiban. These results indicates that intraperitoneal administration of OT can be used for treatment for longer duration without any side effects and maintains homeostasis in physiologic system regulates body weight and gonadal weight in female mice, which represent an important therapeutic tool for the obesity and metabolic disorder in female.
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Key Words
- AN, Arcuate Nucleus
- ANOVA, One-Way Analysis of Variance
- BBB, Blood Brain Barrier
- BW, Body Weight
- Body weight
- CNS, Central Nervous System
- Energy metabolism
- Food intake
- GI, Gastrointestinal
- GPCR, G-Protein Coupled Receptor
- GSI, Gonadosomatic Indices
- Gonadosomatic indices
- HPG, Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis
- I.P., Intraperitoneal
- ICV, Intracerebroventricular
- NTS, Nucleus Tractus Solitarius
- OT, Oxytocin
- OTA, Antagonist Atosiban
- OTRs, Oxytocin Receptors
- Oxytocin
- PCOS, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- PVN, Paraventricular Nuclei
- SEM, Standard Error of Mean
- SIM1, Single Minded 1 Gene
- SON, Supraoptic Nuclei
- VP, Vasopressin
- VTA, Ventral Tegmental Area
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratibha Thakur
- Endocrinology Unit, Bioscience Department, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, 462026, India
| | - Renu Shrivastava
- Zoology Department, Sri Sathya Sai, College for Women, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, 262024, India
| | - Vinoy K Shrivastava
- Endocrinology Unit, Bioscience Department, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, 462026, India
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21
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Niu J, Tong J, Blevins JE. Oxytocin as an Anti-obesity Treatment. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:743546. [PMID: 34720864 PMCID: PMC8549820 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.743546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity is a growing health concern, as it increases risk for heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cancer, COVID-19 related hospitalizations and mortality. However, current weight loss therapies are often associated with psychiatric or cardiovascular side effects or poor tolerability that limit their long-term use. The hypothalamic neuropeptide, oxytocin (OT), mediates a wide range of physiologic actions, which include reproductive behavior, formation of prosocial behaviors and control of body weight. We and others have shown that OT circumvents leptin resistance and elicits weight loss in diet-induced obese rodents and non-human primates by reducing both food intake and increasing energy expenditure (EE). Chronic intranasal OT also elicits promising effects on weight loss in obese humans. This review evaluates the potential use of OT as a therapeutic strategy to treat obesity in rodents, non-human primates, and humans, and identifies potential mechanisms that mediate this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- JingJing Niu
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development, Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States.,Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jenny Tong
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development, Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States.,Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - James E Blevins
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development, Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States.,Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
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22
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Anekonda VT, Thompson BW, Ho JM, Roberts ZS, Edwards MM, Nguyen HK, Dodson AD, Wolden-Hanson T, Chukri DW, Herbertson AJ, Graham JL, Havel PJ, Wietecha TA, O’Brien KD, Blevins JE. Hindbrain Administration of Oxytocin Reduces Food Intake, Weight Gain and Activates Catecholamine Neurons in the Hindbrain Nucleus of the Solitary Tract in Rats. J Clin Med 2021; 10:5078. [PMID: 34768597 PMCID: PMC8584350 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10215078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Existing studies show that CNS oxytocin (OT) signaling is important in the control of energy balance, but it is unclear which neurons may contribute to these effects. Our goals were to examine (1) the dose-response effects of acute OT administration into the third (3V; forebrain) and fourth (4V; hindbrain) ventricles to assess sensitivity to OT in forebrain and hindbrain sites, (2) the extent to which chronic 4V administration of OT reduces weight gain associated with the progression of diet-induced obesity, and (3) whether nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) catecholamine neurons are downstream targets of 4V OT. Initially, we examined the dose-response effects of 3V and 4V OT (0.04, 0.2, 1, or 5 μg). 3V and 4V OT (5 μg) suppressed 0.5-h food intake by 71.7 ± 6.0% and 60 ± 12.9%, respectively. 4V OT (0.04, 0.2, 1 μg) reduced food intake by 30.9 ± 12.9, 42.1 ± 9.4, and 56.4 ± 9.0%, respectively, whereas 3V administration of OT (1 μg) was only effective at reducing 0.5-h food intake by 38.3 ± 10.9%. We subsequently found that chronic 4V OT infusion, as with chronic 3V infusion, reduced body weight gain (specific to fat mass) and tended to reduce plasma leptin in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats, in part, through a reduction in energy intake. Lastly, we determined that 4V OT increased the number of hindbrain caudal NTS Fos (+) neurons (156 ± 25) relative to vehicle (12 ± 3). The 4V OT also induced Fos in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; marker of catecholamine neurons) (+) neurons (25 ± 7%) relative to vehicle (0.8 ± 0.3%). Collectively, these findings support the hypothesis that OT within the hindbrain is effective at reducing food intake, weight gain, and adiposity and that NTS catecholamine neurons in addition to non-catecholaminergic neurons are downstream targets of CNS OT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishwanath T. Anekonda
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; (V.T.A.); (B.W.T.); (J.M.H.); (Z.S.R.); (M.M.E.); (H.K.N.); (A.D.D.); (T.W.-H.); (D.W.C.); (A.J.H.)
| | - Benjamin W. Thompson
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; (V.T.A.); (B.W.T.); (J.M.H.); (Z.S.R.); (M.M.E.); (H.K.N.); (A.D.D.); (T.W.-H.); (D.W.C.); (A.J.H.)
| | - Jacqueline M. Ho
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; (V.T.A.); (B.W.T.); (J.M.H.); (Z.S.R.); (M.M.E.); (H.K.N.); (A.D.D.); (T.W.-H.); (D.W.C.); (A.J.H.)
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA;
| | - Zachary S. Roberts
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; (V.T.A.); (B.W.T.); (J.M.H.); (Z.S.R.); (M.M.E.); (H.K.N.); (A.D.D.); (T.W.-H.); (D.W.C.); (A.J.H.)
| | - Melise M. Edwards
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; (V.T.A.); (B.W.T.); (J.M.H.); (Z.S.R.); (M.M.E.); (H.K.N.); (A.D.D.); (T.W.-H.); (D.W.C.); (A.J.H.)
| | - Ha K. Nguyen
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; (V.T.A.); (B.W.T.); (J.M.H.); (Z.S.R.); (M.M.E.); (H.K.N.); (A.D.D.); (T.W.-H.); (D.W.C.); (A.J.H.)
| | - Andrew D. Dodson
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; (V.T.A.); (B.W.T.); (J.M.H.); (Z.S.R.); (M.M.E.); (H.K.N.); (A.D.D.); (T.W.-H.); (D.W.C.); (A.J.H.)
| | - Tami Wolden-Hanson
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; (V.T.A.); (B.W.T.); (J.M.H.); (Z.S.R.); (M.M.E.); (H.K.N.); (A.D.D.); (T.W.-H.); (D.W.C.); (A.J.H.)
| | - Daniel W. Chukri
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; (V.T.A.); (B.W.T.); (J.M.H.); (Z.S.R.); (M.M.E.); (H.K.N.); (A.D.D.); (T.W.-H.); (D.W.C.); (A.J.H.)
| | - Adam J. Herbertson
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; (V.T.A.); (B.W.T.); (J.M.H.); (Z.S.R.); (M.M.E.); (H.K.N.); (A.D.D.); (T.W.-H.); (D.W.C.); (A.J.H.)
| | - James L. Graham
- Department of Nutrition and Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (J.L.G.); (P.J.H.)
| | - Peter J. Havel
- Department of Nutrition and Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (J.L.G.); (P.J.H.)
| | - Tomasz A. Wietecha
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA;
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA;
| | - Kevin D. O’Brien
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA;
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - James E. Blevins
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98108, USA; (V.T.A.); (B.W.T.); (J.M.H.); (Z.S.R.); (M.M.E.); (H.K.N.); (A.D.D.); (T.W.-H.); (D.W.C.); (A.J.H.)
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA;
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23
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Elfers CT, Blevins JE, Lawson EA, Pittner R, Silva D, Kiselyov A, Roth CL. Robust Reductions of Body Weight and Food Intake by an Oxytocin Analog in Rats. Front Physiol 2021; 12:726411. [PMID: 34646154 PMCID: PMC8502973 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.726411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Oxytocin is a hypothalamic neuropeptide that participates in the network of appetite regulation. Recently the oxytocin signaling pathway has emerged as an attractive target for treating obesity. However, the short half-life limits its development as a clinical therapeutic. Here we provide results from testing a long-lasting, potent and selective oxytocin analog ASK1476 on its efficacy to reduce food intake and body weight in comparison to the native oxytocin peptide. Methods: ASK1476 features two specific amino acid substitutions in positions 7 and 8 combined with a short polyethylene glycol spacer. Short time dose escalation experiments testing increasing doses of 3 days each were performed in diet-induced overweight (DIO) male rats assessing effects on body weight as well as changes in food intake. Furthermore, DIO rats were tested for changes in body weight, food intake, temperature, and locomotor activity over 28 days of treatment (oxytocin, ASK1476, or vehicle). Results: In dose escalation experiments, significant reductions in food intake relative to baseline were detected beginning with doses of 15 nmol/kg ASK1476 (−15.2 ± 2.3 kcal/d, p = 0.0017) and 20 nmol/kg oxytocin (−11.2.9 ± 2.4 kcal/d, p = 0.0106) with corresponding significant changes in body weight (ASK1476: −5.2 ± 0.8 g, p = 0.0016; oxytocin: −2.6 ± 0.7 g, p = 0.0326). In long-term experiments, there was no difference on body weight change between 120 nmol/kg/d ASK1476 (−71.4 ± 34.2 g, p = 0.039) and 600 nmol/kg/d oxytocin (−91.8 ± 32.2 g, p = 0.035) relative to vehicle (706.9 ± 28.3 g), indicating a stronger dose response for ASK1476. Likewise, both ASK1476 and oxytocin at these doses resulted in similar reductions in 28-day cumulative food intake (ASK1476: −562.7 ± 115.0 kcal, p = 0.0001; oxytocin: −557.1 ± 101.3 kcal, p = 0.0001) relative to vehicle treatment (2716 ± 75.4 kcal), while no effects were detected on locomotor activity or body temperature. Conclusion: This study provides proof-of-concept data demonstrating an oxytocin analog with extended in vivo stability and improved potency to reduce food intake and body weight in DIO animals which could mark a new avenue in anti-obesity drug interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clinton T Elfers
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - James E Blevins
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA, United States.,Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Lawson
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - David Silva
- OXT Therapeutics, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | | | - Christian L Roth
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States.,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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24
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Friuli M, Eramo B, Valenza M, Scuderi C, Provensi G, Romano A. Targeting the Oxytocinergic System: A Possible Pharmacological Strategy for the Treatment of Inflammation Occurring in Different Chronic Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10250. [PMID: 34638587 PMCID: PMC8508899 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Unresolved inflammation represents a central feature of different human pathologies including neuropsychiatric, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases. The epidemiologic relevance of such disorders justifies the increasing interest in further understanding the mechanisms underpinning the inflammatory process occurring in such chronic diseases to provide potential novel pharmacological approaches. The most common and effective therapies for controlling inflammation are glucocorticoids; however, a variety of other molecules have been demonstrated to have an anti-inflammatory potential, including neuropeptides. In recent years, the oxytocinergic system has seen an explosion of scientific studies, demonstrating its potential to contribute to a variety of physiological processes including inflammation. Therefore, the aim of the present review was to understand the role of oxytocin in the modulation of inflammation occurring in different chronic diseases. The criterion we used to select the diseases was based on the emerging literature showing a putative involvement of the oxytocinergic system in inflammatory processes in a variety of pathologies including neurological, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular disorders, diabetes and obesity. The evidence reviewed here supports a beneficial role of oxytocin in the control of both peripheral and central inflammatory response happening in the aforementioned pathologies. Although future studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanistic details underlying such regulation, this review supports the idea that the modulation of the endogenous oxytocinergic system might represent a new potential pharmacological approach for the treatment of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Friuli
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.F.); (B.E.); (M.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Barbara Eramo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.F.); (B.E.); (M.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Marta Valenza
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.F.); (B.E.); (M.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Caterina Scuderi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.F.); (B.E.); (M.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Gustavo Provensi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology of Toxicology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy;
| | - Adele Romano
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.F.); (B.E.); (M.V.); (C.S.)
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25
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Edwards MM, Nguyen HK, Dodson AD, Herbertson AJ, Wietecha TA, Wolden-Hanson T, Graham JL, Honeycutt MK, Slattery JD, O’Brien KD, Havel PJ, Blevins JE. Effects of Combined Oxytocin and Beta-3 Receptor Agonist (CL 316243) Treatment on Body Weight and Adiposity in Male Diet-Induced Obese Rats. Front Physiol 2021; 12:725912. [PMID: 34566687 PMCID: PMC8457402 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.725912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have indicated that oxytocin (OT) reduces body weight in diet-induced obese (DIO) rodents through reductions in energy intake and increases in energy expenditure. We recently demonstrated that hindbrain [fourth ventricular (4V)] administration of OT evokes weight loss and elevates interscapular brown adipose tissue temperature (T IBAT ) in DIO rats. What remains unclear is whether OT can be used as an adjunct with other drugs that directly target beta-3 receptors in IBAT to promote BAT thermogenesis and reduce body weight in DIO rats. We hypothesized that the combined treatment of OT and the beta-3 agonist, CL 316243, would produce an additive effect to decrease body weight and adiposity in DIO rats by reducing energy intake and increasing BAT thermogenesis. We assessed the effects of 4V infusions of OT (16 nmol/day) or vehicle (VEH) in combination with daily intraperitoneal injections of CL 316243 (0.5 mg/kg) or VEH on food intake, T IBAT , body weight and body composition. OT and CL 316243 alone reduced body weight by 7.8 ± 1.3% (P < 0.05) and 9.1 ± 2.1% (P < 0.05), respectively, but the combined treatment produced more pronounced weight loss (15.5 ± 1.2%; P < 0.05) than either treatment alone. These effects were associated with decreased adiposity, adipocyte size, energy intake and increased uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1) content in epididymal white adipose tissue (EWAT) (P < 0.05). In addition, CL 316243 alone (P < 0.05) and in combination with OT (P < 0.05) elevated T IBAT and IBAT UCP-1 content and IBAT thermogenic gene expression. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the combined treatment of OT and the beta-3 agonist, CL 316243, produces an additive effect to decrease body weight. The findings from the current study suggest that the effects of the combined treatment on energy intake, fat mass, adipocyte size and browning of EWAT were not additive and appear to be driven, in part, by transient changes in energy intake in response to OT or CL 316243 alone as well as CL 316243-elicited reduction of fat mass and adipocyte size and induction of browning of EWAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melise M. Edwards
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ha K. Nguyen
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Andrew D. Dodson
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Adam J. Herbertson
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Tomasz A. Wietecha
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Tami Wolden-Hanson
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - James L. Graham
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Mackenzie K. Honeycutt
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jared D. Slattery
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kevin D. O’Brien
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Peter J. Havel
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - James E. Blevins
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, WA, United States
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
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Kerem L, Lawson EA. The Effects of Oxytocin on Appetite Regulation, Food Intake and Metabolism in Humans. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7737. [PMID: 34299356 PMCID: PMC8306733 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamic peptide oxytocin and its receptor are involved in a range of physiological processes, including parturition, lactation, cell growth, wound healing, and social behavior. More recently, increasing evidence has established the effects of oxytocin on food intake, energy expenditure, and peripheral metabolism. In this review, we provide a comprehensive description of the central oxytocinergic system in which oxytocin acts to shape eating behavior and metabolism. Next, we discuss the peripheral beneficial effects oxytocin exerts on key metabolic organs, including suppression of visceral adipose tissue inflammation, skeletal muscle regeneration, and bone tissue mineralization. A brief summary of oxytocin actions learned from animal models is presented, showing that weight loss induced by chronic oxytocin treatment is related not only to its anorexigenic effects, but also to the resulting increase in energy expenditure and lipolysis. Following an in-depth discussion on the technical challenges related to endogenous oxytocin measurements in humans, we synthesize data related to the association between endogenous oxytocin levels, weight status, metabolic syndrome, and bone health. We then review clinical trials showing that in humans, acute oxytocin administration reduces food intake, attenuates fMRI activation of food motivation brain areas, and increases activation of self-control brain regions. Further strengthening the role of oxytocin in appetite regulation, we review conditions of hypothalamic insult and certain genetic pathologies associated with oxytocin depletion that present with hyperphagia, extreme weight gain, and poor metabolic profile. Intranasal oxytocin is currently being evaluated in human clinical trials to learn whether oxytocin-based therapeutics can be used to treat obesity and its associated sequela. At the end of this review, we address the fundamental challenges that remain in translating this line of research to clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liya Kerem
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA;
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Lawson
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA;
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Camerino C. Oxytocin Involvement in Body Composition Unveils the True Identity of Oxytocin. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126383. [PMID: 34203705 PMCID: PMC8232088 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The origin of the Oxytocin/Vasopressin system dates back about 600 million years. Oxytocin (Oxt) together with Vasopressin (VP) regulate a diversity of physiological functions that are important for osmoregulation, reproduction, metabolism, and social behavior. Oxt/VP-like peptides have been identified in several invertebrate species and they are functionally related across the entire animal kingdom. Functional conservation enables future exploitation of invertebrate models to study Oxt’s functions not related to pregnancy and the basic mechanisms of central Oxt/VP signaling. Specifically, Oxt is well known for its effects on uteri contractility and milk ejection as well as on metabolism and energy homeostasis. Moreover, the striking evidence that Oxt is linked to energy regulation is that Oxt- and Oxytocin receptor (Oxtr)-deficient mice show late onset obesity. Interestingly Oxt−/− or Oxtr−/− mice develop weight gain without increasing food intake, suggesting that a lack of Oxt reduce metabolic rate. Oxt is expressed in a diversity of skeletal muscle phenotypes and regulates thermogenesis and bone mass. Oxt may increases skeletal muscle tonicity and/or increases body temperature. In this review, the author compared the three most recent theories on the effects of Oxt on body composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Camerino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology (Section of Pharmacology), School of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, P.za G. Cesare 11, 70100 Bari, Italy;
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
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Hong SM, Ko JK, Moon JJ, Kim YR. Oxytocin: A Potential Therapeutic for Obesity. J Obes Metab Syndr 2021; 30:115-123. [PMID: 33820878 PMCID: PMC8277591 DOI: 10.7570/jomes20098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a neuropeptide involved in the homeostasis of food consumption and energy; it affects hedonic eating. Studies in obese or binge-eating patients reported the hypophagic effect of oxytocin, which reduced caloric intake after administration. Several studies have demonstrated the effect of oxytocin’s increasing energy intake, decreasing food consumption, and contributing to weight loss. Oxytocin’s effects on food intake and metabolism suggest its therapeutic potential for treating obesity and binge eating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Min Hong
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jeong-Kyung Ko
- Institute of Eating Disorders and Mental Health, Inje University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jung-Joon Moon
- Department of Psychiatry, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University, Busan, Korea
| | - Youl-Ri Kim
- Institute of Eating Disorders and Mental Health, Inje University, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University, Seoul, Korea
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29
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Edwards MM, Nguyen HK, Herbertson AJ, Dodson AD, Wietecha T, Wolden-Hanson T, Graham JL, O'Brien KD, Havel PJ, Blevins JE. Chronic hindbrain administration of oxytocin elicits weight loss in male diet-induced obese mice. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2021; 320:R471-R487. [PMID: 33470901 PMCID: PMC8238148 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00294.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies indicate that oxytocin (OT) administration reduces body weight in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese (DIO) rodents through both reductions in food intake and increases in energy expenditure. We recently demonstrated that chronic hindbrain [fourth ventricular (4V)] infusions of OT evoke weight loss in DIO rats. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that chronic 4V OT would elicit weight loss in DIO mice. We assessed the effects of 4V infusions of OT (16 nmol/day) or vehicle over 28 days on body weight, food intake, and body composition. OT reduced body weight by approximately 4.5% ± 1.4% in DIO mice relative to OT pretreatment body weight (P < 0.05). These effects were associated with reduced adiposity and adipocyte size [inguinal white adipose tissue (IWAT)] (P < 0.05) and attributed, in part, to reduced energy intake (P < 0.05) at a dose that did not increase kaolin intake (P = NS). OT tended to increase uncoupling protein-1 expression in IWAT (0.05 < P < 0.1) suggesting that OT stimulates browning of WAT. To assess OT-elicited changes in brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis, we examined the effects of 4V OT on interscapular BAT temperature (TIBAT). 4V OT (1 µg) elevated TIBAT at 0.75 (P = 0.08), 1, and 1.25 h (P < 0.05) postinjection; a higher dose (5 µg) elevated TIBAT at 0.75-, 1-, 1.25-, 1.5-, 1.75- (P < 0.05), and 2-h (0.05 < P < 0.1) postinjection. Together, these findings support the hypothesis that chronic hindbrain OT treatment evokes sustained weight loss in DIO mice by reducing energy intake and increasing BAT thermogenesis at a dose that is not associated with evidence of visceral illness.
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MESH Headings
- Adipocytes, Brown/drug effects
- Adipocytes, Brown/metabolism
- Adipocytes, Brown/pathology
- Adipocytes, White/drug effects
- Adipocytes, White/metabolism
- Adipocytes, White/pathology
- Adiposity/drug effects
- Animals
- Anti-Obesity Agents/administration & dosage
- Diet, High-Fat
- Disease Models, Animal
- Eating/drug effects
- Energy Intake/drug effects
- Infusions, Intraventricular
- Leptin/blood
- Male
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Obesity/drug therapy
- Obesity/metabolism
- Obesity/pathology
- Obesity/physiopathology
- Oxytocin/administration & dosage
- Rhombencephalon/drug effects
- Rhombencephalon/physiopathology
- Thermogenesis/drug effects
- Uncoupling Protein 1/metabolism
- Weight Loss/drug effects
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Melise M Edwards
- Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Veteran Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington
| | - Ha K Nguyen
- Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Veteran Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington
| | - Adam J Herbertson
- Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Veteran Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington
| | - Andrew D Dodson
- Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Veteran Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington
| | - Tomasz Wietecha
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Tami Wolden-Hanson
- Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Veteran Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington
| | - James L Graham
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Kevin D O'Brien
- UW Medicine Diabetes Institute, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Peter J Havel
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California
| | - James E Blevins
- Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Veteran Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
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30
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Iovino M, Messana T, Tortora A, Giusti C, Lisco G, Giagulli VA, Guastamacchia E, De Pergola G, Triggiani V. Oxytocin Signaling Pathway: From Cell Biology to Clinical Implications. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets 2021; 21:91-110. [PMID: 32433011 DOI: 10.2174/1871530320666200520093730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In addition to the well-known role played in lactation and parturition, Oxytocin (OT) and OT receptor (OTR) are involved in many other aspects such as the control of maternal and social behavior, the regulation of the growth of the neocortex, the maintenance of blood supply to the cortex, the stimulation of limbic olfactory area to mother-infant recognition bond, and the modulation of the autonomic nervous system via the vagal pathway. Moreover, OT and OTR show antiinflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-pain, anti-diabetic, anti-dyslipidemic and anti-atherogenic effects. OBJECTIVE The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the main data coming from the literature dealing with the role of OT and OTR in physiology and pathologic conditions focusing on the most relevant aspects. METHODS Appropriate keywords and MeSH terms were identified and searched in Pubmed. Finally, references of original articles and reviews were examined. RESULTS We report the most significant and updated data on the role played by OT and OTR in physiology and different clinical contexts. CONCLUSION Emerging evidence indicates the involvement of OT system in several pathophysiological mechanisms influencing brain anatomy, cognition, language, sense of safety and trust and maternal behavior, with the possible use of exogenous administered OT in the treatment of specific neuropsychiatric conditions. Furthermore, it modulates pancreatic β-cell responsiveness and lipid metabolism leading to possible therapeutic use in diabetic and dyslipidemic patients and for limiting and even reversing atherosclerotic lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Iovino
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Tullio Messana
- Infantile Neuropsychiatry, IRCCS - Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy
| | - Anna Tortora
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Consuelo Giusti
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lisco
- Hospital Unit of Endocrinology, Perrino Hospital, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Vito Angelo Giagulli
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Edoardo Guastamacchia
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanni De Pergola
- Clinical Nutrition Unit, Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology, University of Bari, School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Triggiani
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. University of Bari "Aldo Moro", School of Medicine, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
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31
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Wang SC, Wang YF. Cardiovascular protective properties of oxytocin against COVID-19. Life Sci 2021; 270:119130. [PMID: 33513400 PMCID: PMC7837104 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 has become a worldwide pandemic; however, effective treatment for COVID-19 remains to be established. Along with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), new and old cardiovascular injuries are important causes of significant morbidity and mortality in COVID-19. Exploring new approaches managing cardiovascular complications is essential in controlling the disease progression and preventing long-term complications. Oxytocin (OXT), an immune-regulating neuropeptide, has recently emerged as a strong candidate for treatment and prevention of COVID-19 pandemic. OXT carries special functions in immunologic defense, homeostasis and surveillance. It suppresses neutrophil infiltration and inflammatory cytokine release, activates T-lymphocytes, and antagonizes negative effects of angiotensin II and other key pathological events of COVID-19. Additionally, OXT can promote γ-interferon expression to inhibit cathepsin L and increases superoxide dismutase expression to reduce heparin and heparan sulphate fragmentation. Through these mechanisms, OXT can block viral invasion, suppress cytokine storm, reverse lymphocytopenia, and prevent progression to ARDS and multiple organ failures. Importantly, besides prevention of metabolic disorders associated with atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus, OXT can protect the heart and vasculature through suppressing hypertension and brain-heart syndrome, and promoting regeneration of injured cardiomyocytes. Unlike other therapeutic agents, exogenous OXT can be used safely without the side-effects seen in remdesivir and corticosteroid. Importantly, OXT can be mobilized endogenously to prevent pathogenesis of COVID-19. This article summarizes our current understandings of cardiovascular pathogenesis caused by COVID-19, explores the protective potentials of OXT against COVID-19-associated cardiovascular diseases, and discusses challenges in applying OXT in treatment and prevention of COVID-19. Chemical compounds Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2); atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP); cathepsin L; heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs); interferon; interleukin; oxytocin; superoxide dismutase; transmembrane serine protease isoform 2 (TMPRSS2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephani C Wang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
| | - Yu-Feng Wang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
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32
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Kenkel W. Birth signalling hormones and the developmental consequences of caesarean delivery. J Neuroendocrinol 2021; 33:e12912. [PMID: 33145818 PMCID: PMC10590550 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Rates of delivery by caesarean section (CS) are increasing around the globe and, although several epidemiological associations have already been observed between CS and health outcomes in later life, more are sure to be discovered as this practice continues to gain popularity. The components of vaginal delivery that protect offspring from the negative consequences of CS delivery in later life are currently unknown, although much attention to date has focused on differences in microbial colonisation. Here, we present the case that differing hormonal experiences at birth may also contribute to the neurodevelopmental consequences of CS delivery. Levels of each of the 'birth signalling hormones' (oxytocin, arginine vasopressin, epinephrine, norepinephrine and the glucocorticoids) are lower following CS compared to vaginal delivery, and there is substantial evidence for each that manipulations in early life results in long-term neurodevelopmental consequences. We draw from the research traditions of neuroendocrinology and developmental psychobiology to suggest that the perinatal period is a sensitive period, during which hormones achieve organisational effects. Furthermore, there is much to be learned from research on developmental programming by early-life stress that may inform research on CS, as a result of shared neuroendocrine mechanisms at work. We compare and contrast the effects of early-life stress with those of CS delivery and propose new avenues of research based on the links between the two bodies of literature. The research conducted to date suggests that the differences in hormone signalling seen in CS neonates may produce long-term neurodevelopmental consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Kenkel
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
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33
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Abstract
The hypothalamic peptide oxytocin has been increasingly recognized as a hormone and neurotransmitter with important effects on energy intake, metabolism, and body weight and is under investigation as a potential novel therapeutic agent for obesity. The main neurons producing oxytocin and expressing the oxytocin receptor are strategically located in brain areas known to be critically involved in homeostatic energy balance as well as hedonic and motivational aspects of eating behavior. In this chapter, we will review the central and peripheral physiology of oxytocin and the interaction of oxytocin with key hormones and neural circuitries that affect food intake and metabolism. Next, we will synthesize the available data on endogenous oxytocin levels related to caloric intake, body weight, and metabolic status. We will then review the effects of exogenous oxytocin administration on eating behavior, body weight, and metabolism in humans, including in healthy individuals as well as specific populations with suspected perturbations involving oxytocin pathways. Finally, we will address the promise and fundamental challenges of translating this line of research to clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liya Kerem
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Lawson
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
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Melkonyan A, Liu L, Brown EC, Meyer W, Madipakkam AR, Ringelmann L, Lange F, Schmid SM, Münte TF, Park SQ. Unchanged food approach-avoidance behaviour of healthy men after oxytocin administration. J Neuroendocrinol 2020; 32:e12923. [PMID: 33314397 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The oxytocinergic system has been assumed to contribute to food intake, possibly via interactions with dopamine. However, so far, it is unknown whether oxytocin influences the underlying motivational behaviour towards food. In the present study, we used a food-based approach-avoidance task (AAT) in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over design to compare intranasal oxytocin with a placebo. In the AAT, participants pushed or pulled a joystick when images of foods with a high or low craving rating were presented, where differences in response times typically reflect approach and avoidance motivational biases towards positively and negatively valence stimuli, respectively. Thirty-three healthy male participants (age = 25.12 ± 3.51 years; body mass index = 24.25 ± 2.48 kg/m2 ) completed the two-session study, one with placebo and the other with oxytocin. We used mixed-effects models to investigate effects of treatment (oxytocin, placebo), response type (approach, avoid) and stimulus (high, low craving). The results showed that both approach and avoid responses tended to be faster for foods higher in craving compared to foods lower in craving. Most importantly, we did not observe any significant effects of oxytocin compared to placebo in motivational behaviour towards food. Our study demonstrates a general response bias towards foods with different craving values, which could have implications for future studies investigating food-related behaviour. We discuss possible explanations for the null effects of oxytocin and suggest further investigation of the relationship between oxytocin, dopamine and food-reward processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Melkonyan
- Department of Decision Neuroscience and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition, (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lu Liu
- Department of Decision Neuroscience and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition, (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetes, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Elliot C Brown
- Department of Decision Neuroscience and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition, (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetes, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Willi Meyer
- Department of Decision Neuroscience and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition, (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany
- Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Lina Ringelmann
- Department of Psychology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Franziska Lange
- Institute for Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Sebastian M Schmid
- Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetes, Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute for Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Thomas F Münte
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Soyoung Q Park
- Department of Decision Neuroscience and Nutrition, German Institute of Human Nutrition, (DIfE), Nuthetal, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetes, Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Psychology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Neuroscience Research Center, Berlin, Germany
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Wald HS, Chandra A, Kalluri A, Ong ZY, Hayes MR, Grill HJ. NTS and VTA oxytocin reduces food motivation and food seeking. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2020; 319:R673-R683. [PMID: 33026822 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00201.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide whose central receptor-mediated actions include reducing food intake. One mechanism of its behavioral action is the amplification of the feeding inhibitory effects of gastrointestinal (GI) satiation signals processed by hindbrain neurons. OT treatment also reduces carbohydrate intake in humans and rodents, and correspondingly, deficits in central OT receptor (OT-R) signaling increase sucrose self-administration. This suggests that additional processes contribute to central OT effects on feeding. This study investigated the hypothesis that central OT reduces food intake by decreasing food seeking and food motivation. As central OT-Rs are expressed widely, a related focus was to assess the role of one or more OT-R-expressing nuclei in food motivation and food-seeking behavior. OT was delivered to the lateral ventricle (LV), nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), or ventral tegmental area (VTA), and a progressive ratio (PR) schedule of operant reinforcement and an operant reinstatement paradigm were used to measure motivated feeding behavior and food-seeking behavior, respectively. OT delivered to the LV, NTS, or VTA reduced 1) motivation to work for food and 2) reinstatement of food-seeking behavior. Results provide a novel and additional interpretation for central OT-driven food intake inhibition to include the reduction of food motivation and food seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hallie S Wald
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ananya Chandra
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Anita Kalluri
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Zhi Yi Ong
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthew R Hayes
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Harvey J Grill
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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36
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Szeto A, Cecati M, Ahmed R, McCabe PM, Mendez AJ. Oxytocin reduces adipose tissue inflammation in obese mice. Lipids Health Dis 2020; 19:188. [PMID: 32819381 PMCID: PMC7441653 DOI: 10.1186/s12944-020-01364-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity and adipose tissue expansion is characterized by a chronic state of systemic inflammation that contributes to disease. The neuropeptide, oxytocin, working through its receptor has been shown to attenuate inflammation in sepsis, wound healing, and cardiovascular disease. The current study examined the effects of chronic oxytocin infusions on adipose tissue inflammation in a murine model of obesity, the leptin receptor-deficient (db/db) mouse. METHODS The effect of obesity on oxytocin receptor protein and mRNA expression in adipose tissue was evaluated by Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Mice were implanted with osmotic minipumps filled with oxytocin or vehicle for 8 weeks. At study endpoint adipose tissue inflammation was assessed by measurement of cytokine and adipokine mRNA tissue levels, adipocyte size and macrophage infiltration via histopathology, and plasma levels of adiponectin and serum amyloid A as markers of systemic inflammation. RESULTS The expression of adipose tissue oxytocin receptor was increased in obese db/db mice compared to lean controls. In adipose tissue oxytocin infusion reduced adipocyte size, macrophage infiltration, IL-6 and TNFα mRNA expression, and increased the expression of the anti-inflammatory adipokine, adiponectin. In plasma, oxytocin infusion reduced the level of serum amyloid A, a marker of systemic inflammation, and increased circulating adiponectin. CONCLUSIONS In an animal model of obesity and diabetes chronic oxytocin treatment led to a reduction in visceral adipose tissue inflammation and plasma markers of systemic inflammation, which may play a role in disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Szeto
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, PO Box 248185, Coral Gables, FL, 33124, USA
| | - Monia Cecati
- Department of Medicine and Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1450 N.W. 10th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Raisa Ahmed
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, PO Box 248185, Coral Gables, FL, 33124, USA
| | - Philip M McCabe
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, PO Box 248185, Coral Gables, FL, 33124, USA
| | - Armando J Mendez
- Department of Medicine and Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1450 N.W. 10th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
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Sharma SR, Gonda X, Dome P, Tarazi FI. What's Love Got to do with it: Role of oxytocin in trauma, attachment and resilience. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 214:107602. [PMID: 32512017 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is a neurohypophysial hormone and neuropeptide produced by the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland. It has multiple physiological roles including stimulation of parturition and lactation, and promotion of pro-adaptive social behaviors necessary for mammalian survival. OT interacts with one receptor subtype: the OT receptor (OTR) which, upon stimulation, triggers different intracellular signal transduction cascades to mediate its physiological actions. Preclinical studies show that OT regulates social behaviors such as pair bonding, recognition and social interaction. It also coordinates the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the release of corticotrophin-releasing hormone. Further evidence suggests that OT plays an important role in regulating caloric intake and metabolism, and in maintaining electrolyte and cardiovascular homeostasis. OT is also involved in attenuating the neurophysiological and neurochemical effects of trauma on the brain and body by facilitating both physical attachment such as wound healing, and psychological/social attachment, thereby increasing resilience to subsequent traumatic events. Clinical trials have reported that intranasal administration of OT provides therapeutic benefits for patients diagnosed with traumatic stress-related diseases such as major depressive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. OT's therapeutic benefits may result from context-dependent interactions with key neural pathways (social, cognitive, and reward), neurotransmitters (dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and endogenous opioids), and biomarkers (adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate), that lead to a decrease in stress -associated behaviors, and facilitate post-traumatic growth, ultimately leading to increased resilience, through improved social cohesion and attachment. OT induced-augmentation of physical and cognitive resilience may play a significant role in both the prevention of, and improved clinical outcomes for, traumatic stress-related disorders following either acute or enduring traumatic experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samata R Sharma
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Xenia Gonda
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-SE Neurochemistry and Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; Laboratory of Suicide Prevention and Research, National Institute for Psychiatry and Addictions, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Peter Dome
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; Laboratory of Suicide Prevention and Research, National Institute for Psychiatry and Addictions, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Frank I Tarazi
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Program, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
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38
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Maejima Y, Horita S, Otsuka A, Hidema S, Nishimori K, Shimomura K. Oral oxytocin delivery with proton pump inhibitor pretreatment decreases food intake. Peptides 2020; 128:170312. [PMID: 32298773 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2020.170312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin (Oxt) is considered as a potential agent to treat multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, obesity and metabolic syndrome. Although the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear, nasal administration is considered to be a potential way to deliver Oxt into blood vessels. The development of an easier, more stable and efficient way is expected. A recent study demonstrated that orally administered Oxt can be transmitted into blood if it is prevented from degradation in stomach and reaches the intestinal tract. In this study, we pretreated mice with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), omeprazole (20 mg/kg), and administered capsulized Oxt (0.25 mg), so that the Oxt can be prevented from degradation by pepsin due to the low pH in stomach and reach the intestinal tract. Functionally, these mice showed a similar decrease in food intake to those who underwent intraperitoneal administration. We also confirmed that this method dramatically increased plasma Oxt levels and the expression of neural activation marker c-Fos protein in the paraventricular and suprachiasmatic nucleus. Our study showed that by pretreating mice with PPI, Oxt in a gelatin-coated capsule can prevent Oxt from degradation by pepsin in stomach, and reach the bloodstream in an effective concentration. These results indicate that our method is a promising oral delivery of Oxt and should be investigated further for other peptide agents based on peripheral injection or nasal administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Maejima
- Department of Bioregulation and Pharmacological Medicine, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 960-1295, Fukushima, Japan.
| | - Shoichiro Horita
- Department of Bioregulation and Pharmacological Medicine, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 960-1295, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Ayano Otsuka
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University Sendai-shi, 981-8555, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Shizu Hidema
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University Sendai-shi, 981-8555, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Nishimori
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University Sendai-shi, 981-8555, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Kenju Shimomura
- Department of Bioregulation and Pharmacological Medicine, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 960-1295, Fukushima, Japan
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39
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An Allostatic Theory of Oxytocin. Trends Cogn Sci 2020; 24:515-528. [PMID: 32360118 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2020.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin has garnered considerable interest for its role in social behavior, as well as for the potential of intranasal administration to treat social difficulties. However, current theoretical models for the role of oxytocin in social behavior pay little consideration to its evolutionary and developmental history. This article aims to broaden our understanding of the role of oxytocin in social behavior by adopting an ethological approach through the lens of Nikolaas Tinbergen's 'four questions' - how does oxytocin work; how does the role of oxytocin change during development; how does oxytocin enhance survival; and how did the oxytocin system evolve? We argue that oxytocin is most accurately described as an allostatic hormone that modulates both social and non-social behavior by maintaining stability through changing environments.
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40
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Romano A, Friuli M, Cifani C, Gaetani S. Oxytocin in the neural control of eating: At the crossroad between homeostatic and non-homeostatic signals. Neuropharmacology 2020; 171:108082. [PMID: 32259527 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The understanding of the biological substrates regulating feeding behavior is relevant to address the health problems related to food overconsumption. Several studies have expanded the conventional view of the homeostatic regulation of body weight mainly orchestrated by the hypothalamus, to include also the non-homeostatic control of appetite. Such processes include food reward and are mainly coordinated by the activation of the central mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway. The identification of endogenous systems acting as a bridge between homoeostatic and non-homeostatic pathways might represent a significant step toward the development of drugs for the treatment of aberrant eating patterns. Oxytocin is a hypothalamic hormone that is directly secreted into the brain and reaches the blood circulation through the neurohypophysis. Oxytocin regulates a variety of physiologic functions, including eating and metabolism. In the last years both preclinical and clinical studies well characterized oxytocin for its effects in reducing food intake and body weight. In the present review we summarize the role played by oxytocin in the control of both homeostatic and non-homeostatic eating, within cognitive, metabolic and reward mechanisms, to mostly highlight its potential therapeutic effects as a new pharmacological approach for the development of drugs for eating disorders. We conclude that the central oxytocinergic system is possibly one of the mechanisms that coordinate energy balance at the crossroads between homeostatic and non-homeostatic mechanisms. This concept should foster studies aimed at exploring the possible exploitation of oxytocin in the treatment of aberrant eating patterns. This article is part of the special issue on Neuropeptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adele Romano
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "V. Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Marzia Friuli
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "V. Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Cifani
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, via Madonna delle Carceri, 9, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Silvana Gaetani
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "V. Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
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41
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McCormack SE, Blevins JE, Lawson EA. Metabolic Effects of Oxytocin. Endocr Rev 2020; 41:5658523. [PMID: 31803919 PMCID: PMC7012298 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnz012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that oxytocin (OXT), a hypothalamic hormone well recognized for its effects in inducing parturition and lactation, has important metabolic effects in both sexes. The purpose of this review is to summarize the physiologic effects of OXT on metabolism and to explore its therapeutic potential for metabolic disorders. In model systems, OXT promotes weight loss by decreasing energy intake. Pair-feeding studies suggest that OXT-induced weight loss may also be partly due to increased energy expenditure and/or lipolysis. In humans, OXT appears to modulate both homeostatic and reward-driven food intake, although the observed response depends on nutrient milieu (eg, obese vs. nonobese), clinical characteristics (eg, sex), and experimental paradigm. In animal models, OXT is anabolic to muscle and bone, which is consistent with OXT-induced weight loss occurring primarily via fat loss. In some human observational studies, circulating OXT concentrations are also positively associated with lean mass and bone mineral density. The impact of exogenous OXT on human obesity is the focus of ongoing investigation. Future randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials in humans should include rigorous, standardized, and detailed assessments of adherence, adverse effects, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, and efficacy in the diverse populations that may benefit from OXT, in particular those in whom hypothalamic OXT signaling may be abnormal or impaired (eg, individuals with Sim1 deficiency, Prader-Willi syndrome, or craniopharyngioma). Future studies will also have the opportunity to investigate the characteristics of new OXT mimetic peptides and the obligation to consider long-term effects, especially when OXT is given to children and adolescents. (Endocrine Reviews XX: XX - XX, 2020).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shana E McCormack
- Neuroendocrine Center, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - James E Blevins
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Medical Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.,Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Elizabeth A Lawson
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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42
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Hayashi R, Kasahara Y, Hidema S, Fukumitsu S, Nakagawa K, Nishimori K. Oxytocin Ameliorates Impaired Behaviors of High Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:379. [PMID: 32719656 PMCID: PMC7347791 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Excessive intake of fat is a major risk factor for lifestyle-related diseases such as heart disease and also affects brain function such as object recognition memory, social recognition, anxiety behavior, and depression-like behavior. Although oxytocin (OXT) has been reported to improve object recognition, social recognition, anxiety behavior, and depression-like behavior in specific conditions, previous studies did not explore the impact of OXT in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether intake of HFD affects OXT/oxytocin receptor (OXTR) in the brain. Here, we demonstrated that peripheral OXT administration improves not only social recognition but also object recognition and depressive-like behavior in HFD-fed mice. In contrast, peripheral OXT administration to HFD-fed male mice increased fear and anxiety-related behavior. In addition, we observed that intake of HFD decreased OXTR and c-fos mRNA expression in the hippocampus, specifically. Furthermore, peripheral OXT administration increased OXT mRNA expression in the hypothalamus. Altogether, these findings suggest that OXT has the potential to improve various recognition memory processes via peripheral administration but also has side effects that increase fear-related behavior in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryotaro Hayashi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Food and Biodynamic Chemistry Laboratory, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Nippon Flour Mills Co., Ltd., Innovation Center, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Kasahara
- Department of Fetal Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Shizu Hidema
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Bioregulation and Pharmacological Medicine, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Satoshi Fukumitsu
- Nippon Flour Mills Co., Ltd., Innovation Center, Kanagawa, Japan
- Collaborative Graduate School Program, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
- Alliance for Research on the Mediterranean and North Africa (ARENA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kiyotaka Nakagawa
- Food and Biodynamic Chemistry Laboratory, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Nishimori
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Obesity and Inflammation Research, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
- *Correspondence: Katsuhiko Nishimori
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43
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Abstract
Food intake and energy homeostasis determine survival of the organism and species. Information on total energy levels and metabolic state are sensed in the periphery and transmitted to the brain, where it is integrated and triggers the animal to forage, prey, and consume food. Investigating circuitry and cellular mechanisms coordinating energy balance and feeding behaviors has drawn on many state-of-the-art techniques, including gene manipulation, optogenetics, virus tracing, and single-cell sequencing. These new findings provide novel insights into how the central nervous system regulates food intake, and shed the light on potential therapeutic interventions for eating-related disorders such as obesity and anorexia.
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44
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Pflimlin E, Zhou Z, Amso Z, Fu Q, Lee C, Muppiddi A, Joseph SB, Nguyen-Tran V, Shen W. Engineering a Potent, Long-Acting, and Periphery-Restricted Oxytocin Receptor Agonist with Anorexigenic and Body Weight Reducing Effects. J Med Chem 2019; 63:382-390. [PMID: 31850759 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The effects of oxytocin on food intake and body weight reduction have been demonstrated in both animal models and human clinical studies. Despite being efficacious, oxytocin is enzymatically unstable and thus considered to be unsuitable for long-term use in patients with obesity. Herein, a series of oxytocin derivatives were engineered through conjugation with fatty acid moieties that are known to exhibit high binding affinities to serum albumin. One analog (OT-12) in particular was shown to be a potent full agonist at the oxytocin receptor (OTR) in vitro with good selectivity and long half-life (24 h) in mice. Furthermore, OT-12 is peripherally restricted, with very limited brain exposure (1/190 of the plasma level). In a diet-induced obesity mouse model, daily subcutaneous administration of OT-12 exhibited more potent anorexigenic and body weight reducing effects than carbetocin. Thus, our results suggest that the long-acting, peripherally restricted OTR agonist may offer potential therapeutic benefits for obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Pflimlin
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Zhihong Zhou
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Zaid Amso
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Qiangwei Fu
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Candy Lee
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Avinash Muppiddi
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Sean B Joseph
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Vân Nguyen-Tran
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Weijun Shen
- Calibr at The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
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45
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Kerem L, Hadjikhani N, Holsen L, Lawson EA, Plessow F. Oxytocin reduces the functional connectivity between brain regions involved in eating behavior in men with overweight and obesity. Int J Obes (Lond) 2019; 44:980-989. [PMID: 31740723 PMCID: PMC7192759 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-019-0489-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background: Oxytocin (OXT), shown to decrease food intake in animal models and men, is a promising novel treatment for obesity. We have shown that in men with overweight and obesity, intranasal (IN) OXT reduced the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) blood oxygenation level-dependent signal in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the origin of the mesolimbic dopaminergic reward system, in response to high-calorie food vs. non-food images. Here, we employed functional connectivity fMRI analysis, which measures the synchrony in activation between neural systems in a context-dependent manner. We hypothesized that OXT would attenuate the functional connectivity of the VTA with key food motivation brain areas only when participants viewed high-calorie food stimuli. Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of 24 IU IN OXT included 10 men with overweight or obesity (mean±SEM BMI: 28.9±0.8 kg/m2). Following drug administration, subjects completed an fMRI food motivation paradigm including images of high and low-calorie foods, non-food objects, and fixation stimuli. A psychophysiological interaction analysis was performed with the VTA as seed region. Results: Following OXT administration, compared with placebo, participants exhibited significantly attenuated functional connectivity between the VTA and the insula, oral somatosensory cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, operculum, and middle temporal gyrus in response to viewing high-calorie foods (Z≥3.1, cluster-corrected, p<0.05). There was no difference in functional connectivity between VTA and these brain areas when comparing OXT and placebo for low-calorie food, non-food, and fixation images. Conclusion: In men with overweight and obesity, OXT attenuates the functional connectivity between the VTA and food motivation brain regions in response to high-calorie visual food images. These findings could partially explain the observed anorexigenic effect of OXT, providing insight into the mechanism through which OXT ameliorates food cue-induced reward anticipation in patients with obesity. Additional studies are ongoing to further delineate the anorexigenic effect of OXT in obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liya Kerem
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nouchine Hadjikhani
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Center, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Laura Holsen
- Division of Women's Health, Department of Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Lawson
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Franziska Plessow
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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46
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Liu CM, Davis EA, Suarez AN, Wood RI, Noble EE, Kanoski SE. Sex Differences and Estrous Influences on Oxytocin Control of Food Intake. Neuroscience 2019; 447:63-73. [PMID: 31738883 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Central oxytocin potently reduces food intake and is being pursued as a clinical treatment for obesity. While sexually dimorphic effects have been described for the effects of oxytocin on several behavioral outcomes, the role of sex in central oxytocin modulation of feeding behavior is poorly understood. Here we investigated the effects of sex, estrous cycle stage, and female sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone) on central oxytocin-mediated reduction of food intake in rats. Results show that while intracerebroventricular (ICV) oxytocin potently reduces chow intake in both male and female rats, these effects were more pronounced in males than in females. We next examined whether estrous cycle stage affects oxytocin's food intake-reducing effects in females. Results show that ICV oxytocin administration significantly reduces food intake during all estrous cycle stages except proestrous, suggesting that female sex hormones may modulate the feeding effects of oxytocin. Indeed, additional results reveal that estrogen, but not progesterone replacement, in ovariectomized rats abolishes oxytocin-mediated reductions in chow intake. Lastly, oxytocin receptor mRNA (Oxtr) quantification (via quantitative PCR) and anatomical localization (via fluorescent in situ hybridization) in previously established sites of action for oxytocin control of food intake revealed comparable Oxtr expression between male and female rats, suggesting that observed sex and estrous differences may be based on variations in ligand availability and/or binding. Overall, these data show that estrogen reduces the effectiveness of central oxytocin to inhibit food intake, suggesting that sex hormones and estrous cycle should be considered in clinical investigations of oxytocin for obesity treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa M Liu
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Biological Sciences, Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Davis
- Department of Biological Sciences, Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Andrea N Suarez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Ruth I Wood
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Emily E Noble
- Department of Biological Sciences, Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Foods and Nutrition, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States.
| | - Scott E Kanoski
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Biological Sciences, Human and Evolutionary Biology Section, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
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Weingarten MFJ, Scholz M, Wohland T, Horn K, Stumvoll M, Kovacs P, Tönjes A. Circulating Oxytocin Is Genetically Determined and Associated With Obesity and Impaired Glucose Tolerance. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2019; 104:5621-5632. [PMID: 31361301 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2019-00643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Despite the emerging evidence on the role of oxytocin (OXT) in metabolic diseases, there is a lack of well-powered studies addressing the relationship of circulating OXT with obesity and diabetes. OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN Here, we measured OXT in a study cohort (n = 721; 396 women, 325 men; mean age ± SD, 47.7 ± 15.2 years) with subphenotypes related to obesity, including anthropometric traits such as body mass index [BMI (mean ± SD), 26.8 ± 4.6 kg/m2], waist-to-hip ratio (WHR; 0.88 ± 0.09), blood parameters (glucose, 5.32 ± 0.50 mmol/L; insulin, 5.3 ± 3.3 µU/mL), and oral glucose tolerance test to clarify the association with OXT. We also tested in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) whether the interindividual variation in OXT serum levels might be explained by genetic variation. RESULTS The OXT concentration was increased in subjects with elevated BMI and positively correlated with WHR, waist circumference, and triglyceride levels. The OXT concentration in subjects with BMI <25 kg/m2 was significantly lower (n = 256; 78.6 pg/mL) than in subjects with a BMI between 25 and 30 kg/m2 (n = 314; 98.5 pg/mL, P = 6 × 10-6) and with BMI >30 kg/m2 (n = 137; 106.4 pg/mL, P = 8 × 10-6). OXT levels were also positively correlated with plasma glucose and insulin and were elevated in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (P = 4.6 × 10-3). Heritability of OXT was estimated at 12.8%. In a GWAS, two hits in linkage disequilibrium close (19 kb) to the OXT reached genome-wide significant association (top-hit rs12625893, P = 3.1 × 10-8, explained variance 3%). CONCLUSIONS Our data show that OXT is genetically affected by a variant near OXT and is associated with obesity and impaired glucose tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Markus Scholz
- Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics, and Epidemiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- LIFE Research Center, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tobias Wohland
- IFB Adiposity Diseases, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Katrin Horn
- Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics, and Epidemiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- LIFE Research Center, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Stumvoll
- Medical Department III-Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Peter Kovacs
- Medical Department III-Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
- IFB Adiposity Diseases, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anke Tönjes
- Medical Department III-Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
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Wang P, Wang SC, Yang H, Lv C, Jia S, Liu X, Wang X, Meng D, Qin D, Zhu H, Wang YF. Therapeutic Potential of Oxytocin in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: Mechanisms and Signaling Pathways. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:454. [PMID: 31178679 PMCID: PMC6537480 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cardiovascular disease responsible for high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The major pathophysiological basis of CAD is atherosclerosis in association with varieties of immunometabolic disorders that can suppress oxytocin (OT) receptor (OTR) signaling in the cardiovascular system (CVS). By contrast, OT not only maintains cardiovascular integrity but also has the potential to suppress and even reverse atherosclerotic alterations and CAD. These protective effects of OT are associated with its protection of the heart and blood vessels from immunometabolic injuries and the resultant inflammation and apoptosis through both peripheral and central approaches. As a result, OT can decelerate the progression of atherosclerosis and facilitate the recovery of CVS from these injuries. At the cellular level, the protective effect of OT on CVS involves a broad array of OTR signaling events. These signals mainly belong to the reperfusion injury salvage kinase pathway that is composed of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt-endothelial nitric oxide synthase cascades and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2. Additionally, AMP-activated protein kinase, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase signaling and many others are also implicated in OTR signaling in the CVS protection. These signaling events interact coordinately at many levels to suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines and the activation of apoptotic pathways. A particular target of these signaling events is endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mitochondrial oxidative stress that interact through mitochondria-associated ER membrane. In contrast to these protective effects and machineries, rare but serious cardiovascular disturbances were also reported in labor induction and animal studies including hypotension, reflexive tachycardia, coronary spasm or thrombosis and allergy. Here, we review our current understanding of the protective effect of OT against varieties of atherosclerotic etiologies as well as the approaches and underlying mechanisms of these effects. Moreover, potential cardiovascular disturbances following OT application are also discussed to avoid unwanted effects in clinical trials of OT usages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Wang
- Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Stephani C Wang
- Department of Medicine, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Haipeng Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, The Forth Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Chunmei Lv
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shuwei Jia
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaoran Wang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Dexin Meng
- Department of Physiology, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China
| | - Danian Qin
- Department of Physiology, Shantou University of Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Hui Zhu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yu-Feng Wang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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Eisenberg Y, Murad S, Casagrande A, McArthur M, Dugas LR, Barengolts E, Layden BT. Oxytocin alterations and neurocognitive domains in patients with hypopituitarism. Pituitary 2019; 22:105-112. [PMID: 30656597 DOI: 10.1007/s11102-019-00936-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Oxytocin is a hypothalamus derived, posterior pituitary stored nonapeptide which has gained recent interest as an important neuropsychiatric and metabolic hormone beyond its classic role in lactation and parturition. Hypopituitarism is a heterogenous disorder of derangement in one or more anterior or posterior pituitary hormones. Diagnosis of deficiency and hormone replacement exists to address all relevant axes except for oxytocin. Our study aims to define derangements in oxytocin in a unique population of patients with hypopituitarism and correlate levels with measures of emotional health and quality of life. METHODS A cross-sectional, single day study was completed to measure plasma oxytocin levels in a diverse population of patients with hypopituitarism compared to controls. Subjects also completed depression, quality of life and stress-related questionnaires, and emotion recognition tasks. RESULTS Thirty-eight subjects completed the study, 18 with hypopituitarism (9 with diabetes insipidus) and 20 controls. After controlling for differences in age, weight and gender, plasma oxytocin levels were highest in subjects with diabetes insipidus compared to control [mean, IQR: 44.3 pg/ml (29.8-78.2) vs. 20.6 (17-31.3), p = 0.032]. Amongst hypopituitary subjects, those with duration of disease greater than 1 year had higher oxytocin levels. No significant differences were observed for psychosocial measures including emotion recognition tasks. CONCLUSIONS Plasma oxytocin levels were found higher in patients with hypopituitarism compared to controls and highest in those with diabetes insipidus. Longer duration of hypopituitarism was also associated with higher plasma levels of oxytocin. Further study is needed to better define oxytocin deficiency and investigate response to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Eisenberg
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1819 West Polk Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
| | - Shatha Murad
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1819 West Polk Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Alessandra Casagrande
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1819 West Polk Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Mark McArthur
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1819 West Polk Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Lara R Dugas
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Loyola University, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Elena Barengolts
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1819 West Polk Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
- Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Brian T Layden
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1819 West Polk Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
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Defined Paraventricular Hypothalamic Populations Exhibit Differential Responses to Food Contingent on Caloric State. Cell Metab 2019; 29:681-694.e5. [PMID: 30472090 PMCID: PMC6402975 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the neural framework behind appetite control is fundamental to developing effective therapies to combat the obesity epidemic. The paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH) is critical for appetite regulation, yet, the real-time, physiological response properties of PVH neurons to nutrients are unknown. Using a combination of fiber photometry, electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, and neural manipulation strategies, we determined the population dynamics of four molecularly delineated PVH subsets implicated in feeding behavior: glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (PVHGlp1r), melanocortin-4 receptor (PVHMc4r), oxytocin (PVHOxt), and corticotropin-releasing hormone (PVHCrh). We identified both calorie- and state-dependent sustained activity increases and decreases in PVHGlp1r and PVHCrh populations, respectively, while observing transient bulk changes of PVHMc4r, but no response in PVHOxt, neurons to food. Furthermore, we highlight the role of PVHGlp1r neurons in orchestrating acute feeding behavior, independent of the anti-obesity drug liraglutide, and demonstrate the indispensability of PVHGlp1r and PVHMc4r, but not PVHOxt or PVHCrh neurons, in body weight maintenance.
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