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Zacharjasz J, Sztachera M, Smuszkiewicz M, Piwecka M. Micromanaging the neuroendocrine system - A review on miR-7 and the other physiologically relevant miRNAs in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:1557-1575. [PMID: 38858179 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14948] [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: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
The hypothalamic-pituitary axis is central to the functioning of the neuroendocrine system and essential for regulating physiological and behavioral homeostasis and coordinating fundamental body functions. The expanding line of evidence shows the indispensable role of the microRNA pathway in regulating the gene expression profile in the developing and adult hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Experiments provoking a depletion of miRNA maturation in the context of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis brought into focus a prominent involvement of miRNAs in neuroendocrine functions. There are also a few individual miRNAs and miRNA families that have been studied in depth revealing their crucial role in mediating the regulation of fundamental processes such as temporal precision of puberty timing, hormone production, fertility and reproduction capacity, and energy balance. Among these miRNAs, miR-7 was shown to be hypothalamus-enriched and the top one highly expressed in the pituitary gland, where it has a profound impact on gene expression regulation. Here, we review miRNA profiles, knockout phenotypes, and miRNA interaction (targets) in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis that advance our understanding of the roles of miRNAs in mammalian neurosecretion and related physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Zacharjasz
- Department of Non-coding RNAs, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Marta Sztachera
- Department of Non-coding RNAs, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Michał Smuszkiewicz
- Department of Non-coding RNAs, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Monika Piwecka
- Department of Non-coding RNAs, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
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2
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Melo GM, Capucho AM, Sacramento JF, Ponce-de-Leão J, Fernandes MV, Almeida IF, Martins FO, Conde SV. Overnutrition during Pregnancy and Lactation Induces Gender-Dependent Dysmetabolism in the Offspring Accompanied by Heightened Stress and Anxiety. Nutrients 2023; 16:67. [PMID: 38201896 PMCID: PMC10781034 DOI: 10.3390/nu16010067] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Maternal obesity and gestational diabetes predispose the next generation to metabolic disturbances. Moreover, the lactation phase also stands as a critical phase for metabolic programming. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms originating these changes remain unclear. Here, we investigate the consequences of a maternal lipid-rich diet during gestation and lactation and its impact on metabolism and behavior in the offspring. Two experimental groups of Wistar female rats were used: a control group (NC) that was fed a standard diet during the gestation and lactation periods and an overnutrition group that was fed a high-fat diet (HF, 60% lipid-rich) during the same phases. The offspring were analyzed at postnatal days 21 and 28 and at 2 months old (PD21, PD28, and PD60) for their metabolic profiles (weight, fasting glycemia insulin sensitivity, and glucose tolerance) and euthanized for brain collection to evaluate metabolism and inflammation in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex using Western blot markers of synaptic dynamics. At 2 months old, behavioral tests for anxiety, stress, cognition, and food habits were conducted. We observed that the female offspring born from HF mothers exhibited increased weight gain and decreased glucose tolerance that attenuated with age. In the offspring males, weight gain increased at P21 and worsened with age, while glucose tolerance remained unchanged. The offspring of the HF mothers exhibited elevated levels of anxiety and stress during behavioral tests, displaying decreased predisposition for curiosity compared to the NC group. In addition, the offspring from mothers with HF showed increased food consumption and a lower tendency towards food-related aggression. We conclude that exposure to an HF diet during pregnancy and lactation induces dysmetabolism in the offspring and is accompanied by heightened stress and anxiety. There was sexual dimorphism in the metabolic traits but not behavioral phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Silvia V. Conde
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Rua Camara Pestana, 6, Edificio 2, 1150-082 Lisboa, Portugal; (G.M.M.); (A.M.C.); (J.F.S.); (J.P.-d.-L.); (M.V.F.); (I.F.A.); (F.O.M.)
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3
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Haspula D, Cui Z. Neurochemical Basis of Inter-Organ Crosstalk in Health and Obesity: Focus on the Hypothalamus and the Brainstem. Cells 2023; 12:1801. [PMID: 37443835 PMCID: PMC10341274 DOI: 10.3390/cells12131801] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Precise neural regulation is required for maintenance of energy homeostasis. Essential to this are the hypothalamic and brainstem nuclei which are located adjacent and supra-adjacent to the circumventricular organs. They comprise multiple distinct neuronal populations which receive inputs not only from other brain regions, but also from circulating signals such as hormones, nutrients, metabolites and postprandial signals. Hence, they are ideally placed to exert a multi-tier control over metabolism. The neuronal sub-populations present in these key metabolically relevant nuclei regulate various facets of energy balance which includes appetite/satiety control, substrate utilization by peripheral organs and glucose homeostasis. In situations of heightened energy demand or excess, they maintain energy homeostasis by restoring the balance between energy intake and expenditure. While research on the metabolic role of the central nervous system has progressed rapidly, the neural circuitry and molecular mechanisms involved in regulating distinct metabolic functions have only gained traction in the last few decades. The focus of this review is to provide an updated summary of the mechanisms by which the various neuronal subpopulations, mainly located in the hypothalamus and the brainstem, regulate key metabolic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhanush Haspula
- Molecular Signaling Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Zhenzhong Cui
- Mouse Metabolism Core, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
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4
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Fico BG, Maharaj A, Pena GS, Huang CJ. The Effects of Obesity on the Inflammatory, Cardiovascular, and Neurobiological Responses to Exercise in Older Adults. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:865. [PMID: 37372149 DOI: 10.3390/biology12060865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Obesity with advancing age leads to increased health complications that are involved in various complex physiological processes. For example, inflammation is a critical cardiovascular disease risk factor that plays a role in the stages of atherosclerosis in both aging and obesity. Obesity can also induce profound changes to the neural circuitry that regulates food intake and energy homeostasis with advancing age. Here we discuss how obesity in older adults impacts inflammatory, cardiovascular, and neurobiological functions with an emphasis on how exercise mediates each topic. Although obesity is a reversible disorder through lifestyle changes, it is important to note that early interventions are crucial to prevent pathological changes seen in the aging obese population. Lifestyle modifications such as physical activity (including aerobic and resistance training) should be considered as a main intervention to minimize the synergistic effect of obesity on age-related conditions, such as cerebrovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon G Fico
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Arun Maharaj
- Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Gabriel S Pena
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Chun-Jung Huang
- Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Exercise Science and Health Promotion, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
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5
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Martins MG, Silver Z, Ayoub K, Hyland L, Woodside B, Kiss ACI, Abizaid A. Maternal glucose intolerance during pregnancy affects offspring POMC expression and results in adult metabolic alterations in a sex-dependent manner. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1189207. [PMID: 37396180 PMCID: PMC10311085 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1189207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Gestational diabetes (GDM) is associated with negative outcomes in mothers and their offspring, including greater risks of macrosomia at birth and the development of metabolic disorders. While these outcomes are well-established, the mechanisms by which this increased metabolic vulnerability is conferred on the offspring are comparatively lacking. One proposed mechanism is that maternal glycemic dysregulation alters the development of the hypothalamic regions related to metabolism and energy balance. Methods To investigate this possibility, in this study, we first examined the effects of STZ-induced maternal glucose intolerance on the offspring on pregnancy day (PD) 19, and, in a second experiment, in early adulthood (postnatal day (PND) 60). Whether effects would be influenced by sex, or exposure of offspring to a high-fat diet was also investigated. The impact of maternal STZ treatment on POMC neuron number in the ARC of offspring at both time points was also examined. Results As expected, STZ administration on PD 7 decreased maternal glucose tolerance, and increased risk for macrosomia, and loss of pups at birth. Offspring of STZ-treated mothers were also more vulnerable to developing metabolic impairments in adulthood. These were accompanied by sex-specific effects of maternal STZ treatment in the offspring, including fewer POMC neurons in the ARC of female but not male infants in late pregnancy and a higher number of POMC neurons in the ARC of both male and female adult offspring of STZ-treated dams, which was exacerbated in females exposed to a high-fat diet after weaning. Discussion This work suggests that maternal hyperglycemia induced by STZ treatment, in combination with early-life exposure to an obesogenic diet, leads to adult metabolic alterations that correlate with the increased hypothalamic expression of POMC, showing that maternal glycemic dysregulation can impact the development of hypothalamic circuits regulating energy state with a stronger impact on female offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Galleazzo Martins
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences of the University of São Paulo (IB/USP), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Zachary Silver
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Kiara Ayoub
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Lindsay Hyland
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Barbara Woodside
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ana Carolina Inhasz Kiss
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences of the University of São Paulo (IB/USP), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alfonso Abizaid
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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6
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Tajima Y, Ito K, Yuan Y, Frank MO, Saito Y, Darnell RB. NOVA1 acts on Impact to regulate hypothalamic function and translation in inhibitory neurons. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112050. [PMID: 36716149 PMCID: PMC10382602 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112050] [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: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe a patient haploinsufficient for the neuronal RNA binding protein NOVA1 who developed a behavioral motor hyperactivity disorder, suggesting a role of NOVA1 in postnatal motor inhibition. To investigate Nova1's action in adult Gad2+ inhibitory neurons, we generated a conditional Nova1-null mouse (Nova1-cKOGad2-cre). Strikingly, the phenotypes of these mice show many similarities to the NOVA1 haploinsufficient patient and identify a function of Nova1 in the hypothalamus. Molecularly, Nova1 loss in Gad2-positive neurons alters downstream expression of Impact mRNA, along with a subset of RNAs encoding electron transport chain-related factors and ribosomal proteins. NOVA1 stabilizes Impact mRNA by binding its 3' UTR, antagonizing the actions of miR-138 and miR-124. Together, these studies demonstrate actions of NOVA1 in adult hypothalamic neurons, mechanisms by which it functions in translation and metabolism, including through direct binding to Impact mRNA, and illuminate its role in human neurologic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Tajima
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-oncology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Keiichi Ito
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-oncology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mayu O Frank
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-oncology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yuhki Saito
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-oncology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Robert B Darnell
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-oncology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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7
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Choi Y, Min HY, Hwang J, Jo YH. Magel2 knockdown in hypothalamic POMC neurons innervating the medial amygdala reduces susceptibility to diet-induced obesity. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 5:5/11/e202201502. [PMID: 36007929 PMCID: PMC9418835 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperphagia and obesity profoundly affect the health of children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). The Magel2 gene among the genes in the Prader-Willi syndrome deletion region is expressed in proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC). Knockout of the Magel2 gene disrupts POMC neuronal circuits and functions. Here, we report that loss of the Magel2 gene exclusively in ARCPOMC neurons innervating the medial amygdala (MeA) causes a reduction in body weight in both male and female mice fed with a high-fat diet. This anti-obesity effect is associated with an increased locomotor activity. There are no significant differences in glucose and insulin tolerance in mice without the Magel2 gene in ARCPOMC neurons innervating the MeA. Plasma estrogen levels are higher in female mutant mice than in controls. Blockade of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), but not estrogen receptor-α (ER-α), reduces locomotor activity in female mutant mice. Hence, our study provides evidence that knockdown of the Magel2 gene in ARCPOMC neurons innervating the MeA reduces susceptibility to diet-induced obesity with increased locomotor activity through activation of central GPER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuna Choi
- Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA.,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Hyeon-Young Min
- Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA.,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Jiyeon Hwang
- Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA.,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Young-Hwan Jo
- Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA .,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA.,Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
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8
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Mak KWY, Mustafa AF, Belsham DD. Neuroendocrine microRNAs linked to energy homeostasis: future therapeutic potential. Pharmacol Rep 2022; 74:774-789. [PMID: 36083576 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-022-00409-5] [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: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The brain orchestrates whole-body metabolism through an intricate system involving interneuronal crosstalk and communication. Specifically, a key player in this complex circuitry is the hypothalamus that controls feeding behaviour, energy expenditure, body weight and metabolism, whereby hypothalamic neurons sense and respond to circulating hormones, nutrients, and chemicals. Dysregulation of these neurons contributes to the development of metabolic disorders, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. The involvement of hypothalamic microRNAs, post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, in the central regulation of energy homeostasis has become increasingly apparent, although not completely delineated. This review summarizes current evidence demonstrating the regulation of feeding-related neuropeptides by brain-derived microRNAs as well as the regulation of specific miRNAs by nutrients and other peripheral signals. Moreover, the involvement of microRNAs in the central nervous system control of insulin, leptin, and estrogen signal transduction is examined. Finally, the therapeutic and diagnostic potential of microRNAs for metabolic disorders will be discussed and the regulation of brain-derived microRNAs by nutrients and other peripheral signals is considered. Demonstrating a critical role of microRNAs in hypothalamic regulation of energy homeostasis is an innovative route to uncover novel biomarkers and therapeutic candidates for metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly W Y Mak
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building 3247A, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Aws F Mustafa
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building 3247A, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Denise D Belsham
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building 3247A, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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9
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Ramírez S, Haddad-Tóvolli R, Radosevic M, Toledo M, Pané A, Alcolea D, Ribas V, Milà-Guasch M, Pozo M, Obri A, Eyre E, Gómez-Valadés AG, Chivite I, Van Eeckhout T, Zalachoras I, Altirriba J, Bauder C, Imbernón M, Garrabou G, Garcia-Ruiz C, Nogueiras R, Soto D, Gasull X, Sandi C, Brüning JC, Fortea J, Jiménez A, Fernández-Checa JC, Claret M. Hypothalamic pregnenolone mediates recognition memory in the context of metabolic disorders. Cell Metab 2022; 34:269-284.e9. [PMID: 35108514 PMCID: PMC8815774 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2021.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Obesity and type 2 diabetes are associated with cognitive dysfunction. Because the hypothalamus is implicated in energy balance control and memory disorders, we hypothesized that specific neurons in this brain region are at the interface of metabolism and cognition. Acute obesogenic diet administration in mice impaired recognition memory due to defective production of the neurosteroid precursor pregnenolone in the hypothalamus. Genetic interference with pregnenolone synthesis by Star deletion in hypothalamic POMC, but not AgRP neurons, deteriorated recognition memory independently of metabolic disturbances. Our data suggest that pregnenolone's effects on cognitive function were mediated via an autocrine mechanism on POMC neurons, influencing hippocampal long-term potentiation. The relevance of central pregnenolone on cognition was also confirmed in metabolically unhealthy patients with obesity. Our data reveal an unsuspected role for POMC neuron-derived neurosteroids in cognition. These results provide the basis for a framework to investigate new facets of POMC neuron biology with implications for cognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ramírez
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Roberta Haddad-Tóvolli
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marija Radosevic
- Neuroimmunology Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miriam Toledo
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adriana Pané
- Obesity Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Alcolea
- Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vicent Ribas
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB), CSIC, Barcelona, Spain; Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Milà-Guasch
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Macarena Pozo
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Arnaud Obri
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Eyre
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alicia G Gómez-Valadés
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iñigo Chivite
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tomas Van Eeckhout
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ioannis Zalachoras
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jordi Altirriba
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Corinna Bauder
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Mónica Imbernón
- Department of Physiology, Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Gloria Garrabou
- Muscle Research and Mitochondrial Function Laboratory, CELLEX-IDIBAPS, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carmen Garcia-Ruiz
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB), CSIC, Barcelona, Spain; Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Barcelona, Spain; Center for ALPD, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rubén Nogueiras
- Department of Physiology, Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de la Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Soto
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Gasull
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carmen Sandi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jens C Brüning
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany; National Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (CEPD), University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Juan Fortea
- Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain; Barcelona Down Medical Center, Fundació Catalana de Síndrome de Down, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amanda Jiménez
- Obesity Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de la Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Barcelona, Spain; Translational Research in Diabetes, Lipids and Obesity, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - José C Fernández-Checa
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB), CSIC, Barcelona, Spain; Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Barcelona, Spain; Center for ALPD, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Marc Claret
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Barcelona, Spain; Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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10
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Vohra MS, Benchoula K, Serpell CJ, Hwa WE. AgRP/NPY and POMC neurons in the arcuate nucleus and their potential role in treatment of obesity. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 915:174611. [PMID: 34798121 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Obesity is a major health crisis affecting over a third of the global population. This multifactorial disease is regulated via interoceptive neural circuits in the brain, whose alteration results in excessive body weight. Certain central neuronal populations in the brain are recognised as crucial nodes in energy homeostasis; in particular, the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) region contains two peptide microcircuits that control energy balance with antagonistic functions: agouti-related peptide/neuropeptide-Y (AgRP/NPY) signals hunger and stimulates food intake; and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) signals satiety and reduces food intake. These neuronal peptides levels react to energy status and integrate signals from peripheral ghrelin, leptin, and insulin to regulate feeding and energy expenditure. To manage obesity comprehensively, it is crucial to understand cellular and molecular mechanisms of information processing in ARC neurons, since these regulate energy homeostasis. Importantly, a specific strategy focusing on ARC circuits needs to be devised to assist in treating obese patients and maintaining weight loss with minimal or no side effects. The aim of this review is to elucidate the recent developments in the study of AgRP-, NPY- and POMC-producing neurons, specific to their role in controlling metabolism. The impact of ghrelin, leptin, and insulin signalling via action of these neurons is also surveyed, since they also impact energy balance through this route. Lastly, we present key proteins, targeted genes, compounds, drugs, and therapies that actively work via these neurons and could potentially be used as therapeutic targets for treating obesity conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Sufyan Vohra
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University Lakeside Campus, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Khaled Benchoula
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University Lakeside Campus, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Christopher J Serpell
- School of Physical Sciences, Ingram Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NH, United Kingdom
| | - Wong Eng Hwa
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University Lakeside Campus, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
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11
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Chu G, Peng H, Yu N, Zhang Y, Lin X, Lu Y. Involvement of POMC neurons in LEAP2 regulation of food intake and body weight. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:932761. [PMID: 36387867 PMCID: PMC9650057 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.932761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2) is a newly discovered antagonist of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) and is considered the first endogenous peptide that can antagonize the metabolic actions of ghrelin. The effects of ghrelin administration on feeding behavior, body weight, and energy metabolism involve the activation of orexigenic neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus. It is unclear, however, if LEAP2 applied directly to the ARC of the hypothalamus affects these metabolic processes. Here, we show that overexpression of LEAP2 in the ARC through adeno-associated virus (AAV) reduced food intake and body weight in wild-type (WT) mice fed chow and a high-fat diet (HFD) and improved metabolic disorders. LEAP2 overexpression in the ARC overrides both central and peripheral ghrelin action on a chow diet. Interestingly, this AAV-LEAP2 treatment increased proopiomelanocortin (POMC) expression while agouti-related peptide (AGRP)/neuropeptide Y (NPY) and GHSR levels remained unchanged in the hypothalamus. Additionally, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of LEAP2 decreased food intake, increased POMC neuronal activity, and repeated LEAP2 administration to mice induced body weight loss. Using chemogenetic manipulations, we found that inhibition of POMC neurons abolished the anorexigenic effect of LEAP2. These results demonstrate that central delivery of LEAP2 leads to appetite-suppressing and body weight reduction, which might require activation of POMC neurons in the ARC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangpin Chu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hualing Peng
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Nana Yu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuejin Zhang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xueling Lin
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yisheng Lu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Yisheng Lu,
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12
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Metz MJ, Daimon CM, King CM, Rau AR, Hentges ST. Individual arcuate nucleus proopiomelanocortin neurons project to select target sites. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2021; 321:R982-R989. [PMID: 34755553 PMCID: PMC8714814 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00169.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH) are a diverse group of neurons that project widely to different brain regions. It is unknown how this small population of neurons organizes its efferent projections. In this study, we hypothesized that individual ARH POMC neurons exclusively innervate select target regions. To investigate this hypothesis, we first verified that only a fraction of ARH POMC neurons innervate the lateral hypothalamus (LH), the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), the periaqueductal gray (PAG), or the ventral tegmental area (VTA) using the retrograde tracer cholera toxin B (CTB). Next, two versions of CTB conjugated to distinct fluorophores were injected bilaterally into two of the regions such that PVN and VTA, PAG and VTA, or LH and PVN received tracers simultaneously. These pairs of target sites were chosen based on function and location. Few individual ARH POMC neurons projected to two brain regions at once, suggesting that there are ARH POMC neuron subpopulations organized by their efferent projections. We also investigated whether increasing the activity of POMC neurons could increase the number of ARH POMC neurons labeled with CTB, implying an increase in new synaptic connections to downstream regions. However, chemogenetic enhancement of POMC neuron activity did not increase retrograde tracing of CTB back to ARH POMC neurons from either the LH, PVN, or VTA. Overall, subpopulations of ARH POMC neurons with distinct efferent projections may serve as a way for the POMC population to organize its many functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa J Metz
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Caitlin M Daimon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Connie M King
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Andrew R Rau
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Shane T Hentges
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
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13
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Lieu CV, Loganathan N, Belsham DD. Mechanisms Driving Palmitate-Mediated Neuronal Dysregulation in the Hypothalamus. Cells 2021; 10:3120. [PMID: 34831343 PMCID: PMC8617942 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamus maintains whole-body homeostasis by integrating information from circulating hormones, nutrients and signaling molecules. Distinct neuronal subpopulations that express and secrete unique neuropeptides execute the individual functions of the hypothalamus, including, but not limited to, the regulation of energy homeostasis, reproduction and circadian rhythms. Alterations at the hypothalamic level can lead to a myriad of diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and infertility. The excessive consumption of saturated fatty acids can induce neuroinflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and resistance to peripheral signals, ultimately leading to hyperphagia, obesity, impaired reproductive function and disturbed circadian rhythms. This review focuses on the how the changes in the underlying molecular mechanisms caused by palmitate exposure, the most commonly consumed saturated fatty acid, and the potential involvement of microRNAs, a class of non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally, can result in detrimental alterations in protein expression and content. Studying the involvement of microRNAs in hypothalamic function holds immense potential, as these molecular markers are quickly proving to be valuable tools in the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calvin V. Lieu
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building 3247A, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; (C.V.L.); (N.L.)
| | - Neruja Loganathan
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building 3247A, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; (C.V.L.); (N.L.)
| | - Denise D. Belsham
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building 3247A, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; (C.V.L.); (N.L.)
- Departments of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
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14
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Quarta C, Claret M, Zeltser LM, Williams KW, Yeo GSH, Tschöp MH, Diano S, Brüning JC, Cota D. POMC neuronal heterogeneity in energy balance and beyond: an integrated view. Nat Metab 2021; 3:299-308. [PMID: 33633406 PMCID: PMC8085907 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-021-00345-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Hypothalamic AgRP and POMC neurons are conventionally viewed as the yin and yang of the body's energy status, since they act in an opposite manner to modulate appetite and systemic energy metabolism. However, although AgRP neurons' functions are comparatively well understood, a unifying theory of how POMC neuronal cells operate has remained elusive, probably due to their high level of heterogeneity, which suggests that their physiological roles might be more complex than initially thought. In this Perspective, we propose a conceptual framework that integrates POMC neuronal heterogeneity with appetite regulation, whole-body metabolic physiology and the development of obesity. We highlight emerging evidence indicating that POMC neurons respond to distinct combinations of interoceptive signals and food-related cues to fine-tune divergent metabolic pathways and behaviours necessary for survival. The new framework we propose reflects the high degree of developmental plasticity of this neuronal population and may enable progress towards understanding of both the aetiology and treatment of metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelo Quarta
- University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, INSERM U1215, Bordeaux, France
| | - Marc Claret
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism (NeuCoMe) Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER), Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lori M Zeltser
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kevin W Williams
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Giles S H Yeo
- MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthias H Tschöp
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Division of Metabolic Diseases, Department of Medicine, Technische Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Sabrina Diano
- Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jens C Brüning
- Department of Neuronal Control of Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Preventive Medicine (CEDP), University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- National Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Daniela Cota
- University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, INSERM U1215, Bordeaux, France.
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15
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Optogenetic stimulation of the liver-projecting melanocortinergic pathway promotes hepatic glucose production. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6295. [PMID: 33293550 PMCID: PMC7722761 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20160-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The central melanocortin system plays a fundamental role in the control of feeding and body weight. Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC) also regulate overall glucose homeostasis via insulin-dependent and -independent pathways. Here, we report that a subset of ARC POMC neurons innervate the liver via preganglionic parasympathetic acetylcholine (ACh) neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV). Optogenetic stimulation of this liver-projecting melanocortinergic pathway elevates blood glucose levels that is associated with increased expression of hepatic gluconeogenic enzymes in female and male mice. Pharmacological blockade and knockdown of the melanocortin-4 receptor gene in the DMV abolish this stimulation-induced effect. Activation of melanocortin-4 receptors inhibits DMV cholinergic neurons and optogenetic inhibition of liver-projecting parasympathetic cholinergic fibers increases blood glucose levels. This elevated blood glucose is not due to altered pancreatic hormone release. Interestingly, insulin-induced hypoglycemia increases ARC POMC neuron activity. Hence, this liver-projecting melanocortinergic circuit that we identified may play a critical role in the counterregulatory response to hypoglycemia. Hypothalamic melanocortin neurons regulate systemic glucose homeostasis through incompletely understood pathways. Here, the authors show that a subset of pro-opiomelanocortin neurons innervate the liver via preganglionic parasympathetic cholinergic neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus and that stimulation of this pathway elevates blood glucose levels
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16
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Primary cilia mediate early life programming of adiposity through lysosomal regulation in the developing mouse hypothalamus. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5772. [PMID: 33188191 PMCID: PMC7666216 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19638-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypothalamic neurons including proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-producing neurons regulate body weights. The non-motile primary cilium is a critical sensory organelle on the cell surface. An association between ciliary defects and obesity has been suggested, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we show that inhibition of ciliogenesis in POMC-expressing developing hypothalamic neurons, by depleting ciliogenic genes IFT88 and KIF3A, leads to adulthood obesity in mice. In contrast, adult-onset ciliary dysgenesis in POMC neurons causes no significant change in adiposity. In developing POMC neurons, abnormal cilia formation disrupts axonal projections through impaired lysosomal protein degradation. Notably, maternal nutrition and postnatal leptin surge have a profound impact on ciliogenesis in the hypothalamus of neonatal mice; through these effects they critically modulate the organization of hypothalamic feeding circuits. Our findings reveal a mechanism of early life programming of adult adiposity, which is mediated by primary cilia in developing hypothalamic neurons. Ciliary defects and obesity has been associated, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, the authors show that inhibition of ciliogenesis in POMC neurons during development results in lysosomal protein degradation-dependent axonal disruption and adult obesity in mice.
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17
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Yang Y, Xu Y. The central melanocortin system and human obesity. J Mol Cell Biol 2020; 12:785-797. [PMID: 32976556 PMCID: PMC7816681 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjaa048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of obesity and the associated comorbidities highlight the importance of understanding the regulation of energy homeostasis. The central melanocortin system plays a critical role in controlling body weight balance. Melanocortin neurons sense and integrate the neuronal and hormonal signals, and then send regulatory projections, releasing anorexigenic or orexigenic melanocortin neuropeptides, to downstream neurons to regulate the food intake and energy expenditure. This review summarizes the latest progress in our understanding of the role of the melanocortin pathway in energy homeostasis. We also review the advances in the identification of human genetic variants that cause obesity via mechanisms that affect the central melanocortin system, which have provided rational targets for treatment of genetically susceptible patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjie Yang
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yong Xu
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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18
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Vasquez JH, Borniger JC. Neuroendocrine and Behavioral Consequences of Hyperglycemia in Cancer. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5810322. [PMID: 32193527 PMCID: PMC7174055 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
A hallmark of cancer is the disruption of cellular metabolism during the course of malignant growth. Major focus is now on how these cell-autonomous processes propagate to the tumor microenvironment and, more generally, to the entire host system. This chain of events can have major consequences for a patient's health and wellbeing. For example, metabolic "waste" produced by cancer cells activates systemic inflammatory responses, which can interfere with hepatic insulin receptor signaling and glucose homeostasis. Research is just now beginning to understand how these processes occur, and how they contribute to systemic symptoms prevalent across cancers, including hyperglycemia, fatigue, pain, and sleep disruption. Indeed, it is only recently that we have begun to appreciate that the brain does not play a passive role in responding to cancer-induced changes in physiology. In this review, we provide a brief discussion of how oncogene-directed metabolic reprogramming disrupts host metabolism, with a specific emphasis on cancer-induced hyperglycemia. We further discuss how the brain senses circulating glucose concentrations and how this process goes awry as a response to distant neoplastic growth. Finally, as glucose-sensing neurons control diverse aspects of physiology and behavior, we link cancer-induced changes in energy balance to neuroendocrine and behavioral consequences for the host organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan H Vasquez
- Department of Biology, University of Texas – San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Jeremy C Borniger
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York
- Correspondence: Jeremy C. Borniger, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724. E-mail:
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19
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Tong X, Yu N, Han R, Wang T. Function of Dicer with regard to Energy Homeostasis Regulation, Structural Modification, and Cellular Distribution. Int J Endocrinol 2020; 2020:6420816. [PMID: 32774363 PMCID: PMC7397435 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6420816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
As a type III ribonuclease (RNase III) specifically cleaving double-stranded RNA substrates into short fragments, Dicer is indispensable in a range of physi/pathologic processes, e.g., nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, or DNA damage. Therefore, much interest has been paid to the research of this protein as well as its products like microRNAs (miRNAs). The close relationship between Dicer levels and fluctuations of nutrient availability suggests that the protein participates in the regulation of systemic energy homeostasis. Through miRNAs, Dicer regulates the hypothalamic melanocortin-4 system and central autophagy promoting energy expenditure. Moreover, by influencing canonical energy sensors like adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) or mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Dicer favors catabolism in the periphery. Taken together, Dicer might be targeted in the control of energy dysregulation. However, factors affecting its RNase activity should be noted. Firstly, modulation of structural integrity affects its role as a ribonuclease. Secondly, although previously known as a cytosolic endoribonuclease, evidence suggests Dicer can relocalize into the nucleus where it could also produce small RNAs. In this review, we probe into involvement of Dicer in energy homeostasis as well as its structural integrity or cellular distribution which affects its ability to produce miRNAs, in the hope of providing novel insights into its mechanism of action for future application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Tong
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Nianjun Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Rongchun Han
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Tongsheng Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
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20
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Leptin Modulates the Expression of miRNAs-Targeting POMC mRNA by the JAK2-STAT3 and PI3K-Akt Pathways. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8122213. [PMID: 31847355 PMCID: PMC6947463 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8122213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The central control of energy balance involves a strongly regulated neuronal network within the hypothalamus and the brainstem. In these structures, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons are known to decrease food intake and to increase energy expenditure. Thus, leptin, a peripheral signal that relays information regarding body fat content, modulates the activity of POMC neurons. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs of 22–26 nucleotides that post-transcriptionally interfere with target gene expression by binding to their mRNAs. It has been demonstrated that leptin is able to modulate the expression of miRNAs (miR-383, miR-384-3p, and miR-488) that potentially target POMC mRNA. However, no study has identified the transduction pathways involved in this effect of leptin on miRNA expression. In addition, miRNAs targeting POMC mRNAs are not clearly identified. In this work, using in vitro models, we have identified and confirmed that miR-383, miR-384-3p, and miR-488 physically binds to the 3′ untranslated (3′UTR) regions of POMC mRNA. Importantly, we show that leptin inhibits these miRNAs expression by different transduction pathways. Taken together, these results allowed us to highlight the miRNA involvement in the regulation of POMC expression downstream of the leptin signaling and satiety signal integration.
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21
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Quarta C, Fioramonti X, Cota D. POMC Neurons Dysfunction in Diet-induced Metabolic Disease: Hallmark or Mechanism of Disease? Neuroscience 2019; 447:3-14. [PMID: 31689486 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
One important lesson from the last decade of studies in the field of systemic energy metabolism is that obesity is first and foremost a brain disease. Hypothalamic neurons dysfunction observed in response to chronic metabolic stress is a key pathogenic node linking consumption of hypercaloric diets with body weight gain and associated metabolic sequelae. A key hypothalamic neuronal population expressing the neuropeptide Pro-opio-melanocortin (POMC) displays altered electrical activity and dysregulated neuropeptides production capacity after long-term feeding with hypercaloric diets. However, whether such neuronal dysfunction represents a consequence or a mechanism of disease, remains a subject of debate. Here, we will review and highlight emerging pathogenic mechanisms that explain why POMC neurons undergo dysfunctional activity in response to caloric overload, and critically address whether these mechanisms may be causally implicated in the physiopathology of obesity and of its associated co-morbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelo Quarta
- INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, U1215, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, U1215, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.
| | - Xavier Fioramonti
- Université de Bordeaux, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Bordeaux INP, NutriNeuro, UMR 1286, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Daniela Cota
- INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, U1215, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, U1215, F-33000 Bordeaux, France.
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22
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Zhang X, Liu Y, Qi J, Tian Z, Tang N, Chen D, Li Z. Progress in understanding the roles of Urocortin3 (UCN3) in the control of appetite from studies using animal models. Peptides 2019; 121:170124. [PMID: 31415798 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2019.170124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Urocortin3 (UCN3), the newest member of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) family polypeptides, is an anorexic factor discovered in 2001, which has a strong inhibitory effect on animal appetite regulation. UCN3 is widely distributed in various tissues of animals and has many biological functions. Based on the research progress of UCN3 on mammals and non-mammals, this paper summarized the discovery, tissue distribution, appetite regulation and mechanism of UCN3 in animals, in order to provide a reference for feeding regulation and growth in mammals and fish in further research and production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhang
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211# Huimin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, 5# Yushan Road, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yanling Liu
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211# Huimin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jinwen Qi
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211# Huimin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhengzhi Tian
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211# Huimin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ni Tang
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211# Huimin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Defang Chen
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211# Huimin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhiqiong Li
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, 211# Huimin Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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23
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Obri A, Claret M. The role of epigenetics in hypothalamic energy balance control: implications for obesity. Cell Stress 2019; 3:208-220. [PMID: 31309172 PMCID: PMC6612891 DOI: 10.15698/cst2019.07.191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite enormous social and scientific efforts, obesity rates continue to increase worldwide. While genetic factors contribute to obesity development, genetics alone cannot explain the current epidemic. Obesity is essentially the consequence of complex genetic-environmental interactions. Evidence suggests that contemporary lifestyles trigger epigenetic changes, which can dysregulate energy balance and thus contribute to obesity. The hypothalamus plays a pivotal role in the regulation of body weight, through a sophisticated network of neuronal systems. Alterations in the activity of these neuronal pathways have been implicated in the pathophysiology of obesity. Here, we review the current knowledge on the central control of energy balance with a focus on recent studies linking epigenetic mechanisms in the hypothalamus to the development of obesity and metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Obri
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Claret
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
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24
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Gao Y, Li J, Zhang Z, Zhang R, Pollock A, Sun T. MicroRNA miR-7 and miR-17-92 in the Arcuate Nucleus of Mouse Hypothalamus Regulate Sex-Specific Diet-Induced Obesity. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:7508-7521. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-1618-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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25
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Baldini G, Phelan KD. The melanocortin pathway and control of appetite-progress and therapeutic implications. J Endocrinol 2019; 241:R1-R33. [PMID: 30812013 PMCID: PMC6500576 DOI: 10.1530/joe-18-0596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The initial discovery that ob/ob mice become obese because of a recessive mutation of the leptin gene has been crucial to discover the melanocortin pathway to control appetite. In the melanocortin pathway, the fed state is signaled by abundance of circulating hormones such as leptin and insulin, which bind to receptors expressed at the surface of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons to promote processing of POMC to the mature hormone α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). The α-MSH released by POMC neurons then signals to decrease energy intake by binding to melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) expressed by MC4R neurons to the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Conversely, in the 'starved state' activity of agouti-related neuropeptide (AgRP) and of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-expressing neurons is increased by decreased levels of circulating leptin and insulin and by the orexigenic hormone ghrelin to promote food intake. This initial understanding of the melanocortin pathway has recently been implemented by the description of the complex neuronal circuit that controls the activity of POMC, AgRP/NPY and MC4R neurons and downstream signaling by these neurons. This review summarizes the progress done on the melanocortin pathway and describes how obesity alters this pathway to disrupt energy homeostasis. We also describe progress on how leptin and insulin receptors signal in POMC neurons, how MC4R signals and how altered expression and traffic of MC4R change the acute signaling and desensitization properties of the receptor. We also describe how the discovery of the melanocortin pathway has led to the use of melanocortin agonists to treat obesity derived from genetic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Baldini
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Kevin D. Phelan
- Department of Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
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26
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Quarta C, Fisette A, Xu Y, Colldén G, Legutko B, Tseng YT, Reim A, Wierer M, De Rosa MC, Klaus V, Rausch R, Thaker VV, Graf E, Strom TM, Poher AL, Gruber T, Le Thuc O, Cebrian-Serrano A, Kabra D, Bellocchio L, Woods SC, Pflugfelder GO, Nogueiras R, Zeltser L, Grunwald Kadow IC, Moon A, García-Cáceres C, Mann M, Treier M, Doege CA, Tschöp MH. Functional identity of hypothalamic melanocortin neurons depends on Tbx3. Nat Metab 2019; 1:222-235. [PMID: 32694784 PMCID: PMC8291379 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-018-0028-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Heterogeneous populations of hypothalamic neurons orchestrate energy balance via the release of specific signatures of neuropeptides. However, how specific intracellular machinery controls peptidergic identities and function of individual hypothalamic neurons remains largely unknown. The transcription factor T-box 3 (Tbx3) is expressed in hypothalamic neurons sensing and governing energy status, whereas human TBX3 haploinsufficiency has been linked with obesity. Here, we demonstrate that loss of Tbx3 function in hypothalamic neurons causes weight gain and other metabolic disturbances by disrupting both the peptidergic identity and plasticity of Pomc/Cart and Agrp/Npy neurons. These alterations are observed after loss of Tbx3 in both immature hypothalamic neurons and terminally differentiated mouse neurons. We further establish the importance of Tbx3 for body weight regulation in Drosophila melanogaster and show that TBX3 is implicated in the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into hypothalamic Pomc neurons. Our data indicate that Tbx3 directs the terminal specification of neurons as functional components of the melanocortin system and is required for maintaining their peptidergic identity. In summary, we report the discovery of a key mechanistic process underlying the functional heterogeneity of hypothalamic neurons governing body weight and systemic metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelo Quarta
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, U1215, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, Bordeaux, France
| | - Alexandre Fisette
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Yanjun Xu
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- Division of Metabolic Diseases, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Gustav Colldén
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Beata Legutko
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Yu-Ting Tseng
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Reim
- Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Michael Wierer
- Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Maria Caterina De Rosa
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Valentina Klaus
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- Division of Metabolic Diseases, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Rick Rausch
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vidhu V Thaker
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elisabeth Graf
- Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Tim M Strom
- Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Anne-Laure Poher
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Tim Gruber
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ophélia Le Thuc
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Alberto Cebrian-Serrano
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Dhiraj Kabra
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Luigi Bellocchio
- INSERM U1215, NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux, France
- Université de Bordeaux, NeuroCentre Magendie, Bordeaux, France
| | - Stephen C Woods
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Metabolic Diseases Institute, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Gert O Pflugfelder
- Institute of Developmental and Neurobiology. Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Rubén Nogueiras
- Department of Physiology, CIMUS, University of Santiago de Compostela-Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Madrid, Spain
| | - Lori Zeltser
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ilona C Grunwald Kadow
- Technical University of Munich, School of Life Sciences, ZIEL - Institute for Food and Health, Freising, Germany
| | - Anne Moon
- Department of Molecular and Functional Genomics, Geisinger Clinic, Danville PA, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Cristina García-Cáceres
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Mann
- Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Mathias Treier
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia A Doege
- Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthias H Tschöp
- Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany.
- Division of Metabolic Diseases, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
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27
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Obri A, Claret M. A question of identity: Tbx3 carries the POMC flag. Nat Metab 2019; 1:175-176. [PMID: 32694783 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-018-0027-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Obri
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Claret
- Neuronal Control of Metabolism Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Barcelona, Spain.
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28
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Derghal A, Djelloul M, Azzarelli M, Degonon S, Tourniaire F, Landrier JF, Mounien L. MicroRNAs are involved in the hypothalamic leptin sensitivity. Epigenetics 2018; 13:1127-1140. [PMID: 30395773 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2018.1543507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system monitors modifications in metabolic parameters or hormone levels (leptin) and elicits adaptive responses such as food intake and glucose homeostasis regulation. Particularly, within the hypothalamus, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons are crucial regulators of energy balance. Consistent with a pivotal role of the melanocortin system in the control of energy homeostasis, disruption of the Pomc gene causes hyperphagia and obesity. Pomc gene expression is tightly controlled by different mechanisms. Interestingly, recent studies pointed to a key role for micro ribonucleic acid (miRNAs) in the regulation of gene expression. However, the role of miRNAs in the leptin sensitivity in hypothalamic melanocortin system has never been assessed. We developed a transgenic mouse model (PDKO) with a partial deletion of the miRNA processing enzyme DICER specifically in POMC neurons. PDKO mice exhibited a normal body weight but a decrease of food intake. Interestingly, PDKO mice had decreased metabolic rate by reduction of VO2 consumption and CO2 production which could explain that PDKO mice have normal weight while eating less. Interestingly, we observed an increase of leptin sensitivity in the POMC neurons of PDKO mice which could explain the decrease of food intake in this model. We also observed an increase in the expression of genes involved in the function of brown adipose tissue that is in polysynaptic contact with the POMC neurons. In summary, these results support the hypothesis that Dicer-derived miRNAs may be involved in the effect of leptin on POMC neurons activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adel Derghal
- a Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, INRA, C2VN , Marseille , France
| | - Mehdi Djelloul
- b Department of Cell and Molecular Biology , Karolinska Institute , Stockholm , Sweden
| | | | | | - Franck Tourniaire
- a Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, INRA, C2VN , Marseille , France.,c Faculté de Médecine de la Timone , CriBioM, Criblage Biologique Marseille , Marseille , France
| | - Jean-François Landrier
- a Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, INRA, C2VN , Marseille , France.,c Faculté de Médecine de la Timone , CriBioM, Criblage Biologique Marseille , Marseille , France
| | - Lourdes Mounien
- a Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, INRA, C2VN , Marseille , France
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29
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Najam SS, Zglinicki B, Vinnikov IA, Konopka W. MicroRNAs in the hypothalamic control of energy homeostasis. Cell Tissue Res 2018; 375:173-177. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-2876-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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30
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Resolving Behavioral Output via Chemogenetic Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs. J Neurosci 2017; 36:9268-82. [PMID: 27605603 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1333-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) have proven to be highly effective neuromodulatory tools for the investigation of neural circuits underlying behavioral outputs. They exhibit a number of advantages: they rely on cell-specific manipulations through canonical intracellular signaling pathways, they are easy and cost-effective to implement in a laboratory setting, and they are easily scalable for single-region or full-brain manipulations. On the other hand, DREADDs rely on ligand-G-protein-coupled receptor interactions, leading to coarse temporal dynamics. In this review we will provide a brief overview of DREADDs, their implementation, and the advantages and disadvantages of their use in animal systems. We also will provide numerous examples of their use across a broad variety of biomedical research fields.
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31
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Wolf Y, Boura-Halfon S, Cortese N, Haimon Z, Sar Shalom H, Kuperman Y, Kalchenko V, Brandis A, David E, Segal-Hayoun Y, Chappell-Maor L, Yaron A, Jung S. Brown-adipose-tissue macrophages control tissue innervation and homeostatic energy expenditure. Nat Immunol 2017; 18:665-674. [PMID: 28459435 PMCID: PMC5438596 DOI: 10.1038/ni.3746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tissue macrophages provide immunological defense and contribute to the establishment and maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Here we used constitutive and inducible mutagenesis to delete the nuclear transcription regulator Mecp2 in macrophages. Mice that lacked the gene encoding Mecp2, which is associated with Rett syndrome, in macrophages did not show signs of neurodevelopmental disorder but displayed spontaneous obesity, which was linked to impaired function of brown adipose tissue (BAT). Specifically, mutagenesis of a BAT-resident Cx3Cr1+ macrophage subpopulation compromised homeostatic thermogenesis but not acute, cold-induced thermogenesis. Mechanistically, malfunction of BAT in pre-obese mice with mutant macrophages was associated with diminished sympathetic innervation and local titers of norepinephrine, which resulted in lower expression of thermogenic factors by adipocytes. Mutant macrophages overexpressed the signaling receptor and ligand PlexinA4, which might contribute to the phenotype by repulsion of sympathetic axons expressing the transmembrane semaphorin Sema6A. Collectively, we report a previously unappreciated homeostatic role for macrophages in the control of tissue innervation. Disruption of this circuit in BAT resulted in metabolic imbalance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yochai Wolf
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Nina Cortese
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Zhana Haimon
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hadas Sar Shalom
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yael Kuperman
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Vyacheslav Kalchenko
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Alexander Brandis
- Department of Biological Services, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eyal David
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yifat Segal-Hayoun
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Avraham Yaron
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Steffen Jung
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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32
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Zhang R, Asai M, Mahoney CE, Joachim M, Shen Y, Gunner G, Majzoub JA. Loss of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone markedly reduces anxiety behaviors in mice. Mol Psychiatry 2017; 22:733-744. [PMID: 27595593 PMCID: PMC5339066 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
A long-standing paradigm posits that hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) regulates neuroendocrine functions such as adrenal glucocorticoid release, whereas extra-hypothalamic CRH has a key role in stressor-triggered behaviors. Here we report that hypothalamus-specific Crh knockout mice (Sim1CrhKO mice, created by crossing Crhflox with Sim1Cre mice) have absent Crh mRNA and peptide mainly in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) but preserved Crh expression in other brain regions including amygdala and cerebral cortex. As expected, Sim1CrhKO mice exhibit adrenal atrophy as well as decreased basal, diurnal and stressor-stimulated plasma corticosterone secretion and basal plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone, but surprisingly, have a profound anxiolytic phenotype when evaluated using multiple stressors including open-field, elevated plus maze, holeboard, light-dark box and novel object recognition task. Restoring plasma corticosterone did not reverse the anxiolytic phenotype of Sim1CrhKO mice. Crh-Cre driver mice revealed that PVHCrh fibers project abundantly to cingulate cortex and the nucleus accumbens shell, and moderately to medial amygdala, locus coeruleus and solitary tract, consistent with the existence of PVHCrh-dependent behavioral pathways. Although previous, nonselective attenuation of CRH production or action, genetically in mice and pharmacologically in humans, respectively, has not produced the anticipated anxiolytic effects, our data show that targeted interference specifically with hypothalamic Crh expression results in anxiolysis. Our data identify neurons that express both Sim1 and Crh as a cellular entry point into the study of CRH-mediated, anxiety-like behaviors and their therapeutic attenuation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Zhang
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Key laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China; College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710069, China,Division for Experimental Natural Science, Faculty of Arts and Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan,To whom correspondence should be addressed. ;
| | - Masato Asai
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Carrie E Mahoney
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Maria Joachim
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yuan Shen
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Georgia Gunner
- Neurodevelopmental Behavior Core, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joseph A Majzoub
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA,To whom correspondence should be addressed. ;
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33
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Derghal A, Djelloul M, Trouslard J, Mounien L. The Role of MicroRNA in the Modulation of the Melanocortinergic System. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:181. [PMID: 28424580 PMCID: PMC5380727 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The central control of energy balance involves a highly regulated neuronal network within the hypothalamus and the dorsal vagal complex. In these structures, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons are known to reduce meal size and to increase energy expenditure. In addition, leptin, a peripheral signal that relays information regarding body fat content, modulates the activity of melanocortin pathway neurons including POMC-, Agouti-related peptide (AgRP)/Neuropeptide Y (NPY)-, melanocortin receptors (MC3R and MC4R)-expressing neurons. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs of 22–26 nucleotides that post-transcriptionally interfere with target gene expression by binding to their mRNAs. Evidence has demonstrated that miRNAs play important roles in the central regulation of energy balance. In this context, different studies identified miRNAs including miR-200 family, miR-103, or miR-488 that could target the genes of melanocortin pathway. More precisely, these different miRNAs can modulate energy homeostasis by affecting leptin transduction pathway in the POMC, or AgRP/NPY neurons. This article reviews the role of identified miRNAs in the modulation of melanocortin pathway in the context of energy homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adel Derghal
- Physiologie et Physiopathologie du Système Nerveux Somatomoteur et Neurovégétatif (PPSN), Aix Marseille UniversityMarseille, France
| | - Mehdi Djelloul
- Physiologie et Physiopathologie du Système Nerveux Somatomoteur et Neurovégétatif (PPSN), Aix Marseille UniversityMarseille, France.,Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska InstituteStockholm, Sweden
| | - Jérôme Trouslard
- Physiologie et Physiopathologie du Système Nerveux Somatomoteur et Neurovégétatif (PPSN), Aix Marseille UniversityMarseille, France
| | - Lourdes Mounien
- Physiologie et Physiopathologie du Système Nerveux Somatomoteur et Neurovégétatif (PPSN), Aix Marseille UniversityMarseille, France
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34
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Spiers JG, Chen HJC, Steyn FJ, Lavidis NA, Woodruff TM, Lee JD. Noninvasive assessment of altered activity following restraint in mice using an automated physiological monitoring system. Stress 2017; 20:59-67. [PMID: 28027673 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2016.1276898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the laboratory setting, typical endocrine and targeted behavioral tests are limited in their ability to provide a direct assessment of stress in animals housed in undisturbed conditions. We hypothesized that an automated phenotyping system would allow the detection of subtle stress-related behavioral changes well beyond the time-frames examined using conventional methods. In this study, we have utilized the TSE PhenoMaster system to continuously record basal behaviors and physiological parameters including activity, body weight, food intake and oxygen consumption in undisturbed and stressed C57Bl/6J male mice (n = 12/group), with a pharmacological intervention using the conventional anxiolytic, diazepam (5 mg kg-1 i.p.; n = 8/group). We observed significant 20-30% reductions in locomotor activity in the dark phase, with subtle reductions in light phase activity for up to 96 h following a single 2 h episode of restraint stress. A single administration of diazepam reduced plasma corticosterone concentrations by 30-35% during stress exposure when compared to mice treated with vehicle. This treatment did not result in significantly different locomotor activity compared to vehicle within the first 48 h following restraint stress. However, diazepam treatment facilitated restoration of locomotor activity at 72 and 96 h after restraint stress exposure in comparison to vehicle-treated mice. Hence, the use of an automated phenotyping system allows a real time assessment of basal behaviors and empirical metabolism following exposure to restraint stress and demonstrates major and subtle changes in activity persist for several days after stress exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jereme G Spiers
- a School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland , St. Lucia , Australia
| | | | - Frederik J Steyn
- a School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland , St. Lucia , Australia
- b Integrated Physiology Facility , The University of Queensland , St. Lucia , Australia
- c University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland , Herston , Australia
| | - Nickolas A Lavidis
- a School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland , St. Lucia , Australia
| | - Trent M Woodruff
- a School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland , St. Lucia , Australia
| | - John D Lee
- a School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland , St. Lucia , Australia
- c University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland , Herston , Australia
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Conceição EPS, Moura EG, Oliveira E, Guarda DS, Figueiredo MS, Quitete FT, Calvino C, Miranda RA, Mathias PCF, Manhães AC, Lisboa PC. Dietary calcium supplementation in adult rats reverts brown adipose tissue dysfunction programmed by postnatal early overfeeding. J Nutr Biochem 2017; 39:117-125. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2016.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2016] [Revised: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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36
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Collison KS, Inglis A, Shibin S, Andres B, Ubungen R, Thiam J, Mata P, Al-Mohanna FA. Differential effects of early-life NMDA receptor antagonism on aspartame-impaired insulin tolerance and behavior. Physiol Behav 2016; 167:209-221. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Abstract
The brain is considered a major site for microRNA (miRNA) expression; as evidenced by several studies reporting microarray data of different brain substructures. The hypothalamus is among the brain regions that plays a crucial role in integrating signals from other brain nuclei as well as environmental, hormonal, metabolic and neuronal signals from the periphery in order to deliver an adequate response. The hypothalamus controls vital functions such as reproduction, energy homeostasis, water balance, circadian rhythm and stress. These functions need a high neuronal plasticity to adequately respond to physiological, environmental and psychological stimuli that could be limited to a specific temporal period during life or are cyclic events. In this context, miRNAs constitute major regulators and coordinators of gene expression. Indeed, in response to specific stimuli, changes in miRNA expression profiles finely tune specific mRNA targets to adequately fit to the immediate needs through mainly the modulation of neuronal plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Taouis
- Molecular Neuroendocrinology of Food Intake (NMPA), UMR 9197, University Paris-Sud, Orsay, France; NMPA, Neurosciences Paris Saclay Institute (NeuroPSI), Department Molecules & Circuits, CNRS UMR 9197, Orsay, France.
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38
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Benite-Ribeiro SA, Putt DA, Soares-Filho MC, Santos JM. The link between hypothalamic epigenetic modifications and long-term feeding control. Appetite 2016; 107:445-453. [PMID: 27565376 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2016.08.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Revised: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of obesity, one of the main risks for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, has been rising, and changes in eating behavior are associated with this increasing rate. Body weight is maintained via a complex integration of endocrine and neuronal inputs that regulate the control of orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Overfeeding may disrupt the mechanisms of feeding control, increasing orexigenic peptides such as neuropeptide Y (NPY), and/or decreasing the anorexigenic peptide proopiomelanocortin (POMC) leading to a change in energy balance and body-weight index. Despite of the great interest in this field, the mechanism by which expression of POMC and NPY is modified is not entirely clear. Over the past decades, studies have demonstrated that epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone modification and changes in miRNA dynamics, could be modulated by external stimuli and these could affect protein expression in different cells. Therefore, this review discusses the recent reports that link epigenetic modifications in the hypothalamus to changes on long-term feeding control and its role in the onset of obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Júlia Matzenbacher Santos
- Federal University of Goiás, Regional Jataí, Bioscience Institute, Jataí, GO, Brazil; Detroit R&D, Research Department, Detroit, MI, USA.
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39
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Luoni A, Riva MA. MicroRNAs and psychiatric disorders: From aetiology to treatment. Pharmacol Ther 2016; 167:13-27. [PMID: 27452338 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2016.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of psychiatric disorders relies on the interaction between genetic vulnerability and environmental adversities. Several studies have demonstrated a crucial role for epigenetics (e.g. DNA methylation, post-translational histone modifications and microRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation) in the translation of environmental cues into adult behavioural outcome, which can prove to be harmful thus increasing the risk to develop psychopathology. Within this frame, non-coding RNAs, especially microRNAs, came to light as pivotal regulators of many biological processes occurring in the Central Nervous System, both during the neuronal development as well as in the regulation of adult function, including learning, memory and neuronal plasticity. On these basis, in recent years it has been hypothesised a central role for microRNA modulation and expression regulation in many brain disorders, including neurodegenerative disorders and mental illnesses. Indeed, the aim of the present review is to present the most recent state of the art regarding microRNA involvement in psychiatric disorders. We will first describe the mechanisms that regulate microRNA biogenesis and we will report evidences of microRNA dysregulation in peripheral body fluids, in postmortem brain tissues from patients suffering from psychopathology as well as in animal models. Last, we will discuss the potential to consider microRNAs as putative target for pharmacological intervention, using common psychotropic drugs or more specific tools, with the aim to normalize functions that are disrupted in different psychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Luoni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Andrea Riva
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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Muscimol microinjected in the arcuate nucleus affects metabolism, body temperature & ventilation. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2016; 227:34-40. [PMID: 26934718 DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2016.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Revised: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Effects of microinjection of 2 doses of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor agonist, muscimol (M), into the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus on oxygen consumption and control of ventilation over time and body temperature (BT) at the end of the experiment were compared in adult male and female rats. Relative to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF, 0 nmol), BT was decreased only in male rats with both doses of M, while in female rats, the 5 nmol dose depressed oxygen consumption. Ventilation was depressed by 5 nmol M in male and 10 nmol M in female rats by decreasing tidal volume. M did not affect the ventilatory response of male or female rats to hypoxia, whereas in females 5 and 10 nmol M and in males 10 nmol M depressed the ventilatory response to hypercapnia. Thus, in rats GABAA receptors in the arcuate nucleus modulate BT, oxygen consumption, and ventilation in air and in response to hypercapnia in a sexually dimorphic manner.
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Fiorenza A, Barco A. Role of Dicer and the miRNA system in neuronal plasticity and brain function. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2016; 135:3-12. [PMID: 27163737 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Revised: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory non-coding RNAs that contribute to fine-tuning regulation of gene expression by mRNA destabilization and/or translational repression. Their abundance in the nervous system, their temporally and spatially regulated expression and their ability to respond in an activity-dependent manner make miRNAs ideal candidates for the regulation of complex processes in the brain, including neuronal plasticity, memory formation and neural development. The conditional ablation of the RNase III Dicer, which is essential for the maturation of most miRNAs, is a useful model to investigate the effect of the loss of the miRNA system, as a whole, in different tissues and cellular types. In this review, we first provide an overview of Dicer function and structure, and discuss outstanding questions concerning the role of miRNAs in the regulation of gene expression and neuronal function, to later focus on the insight derived from studies in which the genetic ablation of Dicer was used to determine the role of the miRNA system in the nervous system. In particular, we highlight the collective role of miRNAs fine-tuning plasticity-related gene expression and providing robustness to neuronal gene expression networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Fiorenza
- Instituto de Neurociencias (Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n, Sant Joan d'Alacant, 03550 Alicante, Spain
| | - Angel Barco
- Instituto de Neurociencias (Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n, Sant Joan d'Alacant, 03550 Alicante, Spain.
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42
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Laing BT, Do K, Matsubara T, Wert DW, Avery MJ, Langdon EM, Zheng D, Huang H. Voluntary exercise improves hypothalamic and metabolic function in obese mice. J Endocrinol 2016; 229:109-22. [PMID: 26931136 DOI: 10.1530/joe-15-0510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Exercise plays a critical role in regulating glucose homeostasis and body weight. However, the mechanism of exercise on metabolic functions associated with the CNS has not been fully understood. C57BL6 male mice (n=45) were divided into three groups: normal chow diet, high-fat diet (HFD) treatment, and HFD along with voluntary running wheel exercise training for 12 weeks. Metabolic function was examined by the Comprehensive Lab Animal Monitoring System and magnetic resonance imaging; phenotypic analysis included measurements of body weight, food intake, glucose and insulin tolerance tests, as well as insulin and leptin sensitivity studies. By immunohistochemistry, the amount changes in the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, neuronal proliferative maker Ki67, apoptosis positive cells as well as pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-expressing neurons in the arcuate area of the hypothalamus was identified. We found that 12 weeks of voluntary exercise training partially reduced body weight gain and adiposity induced by an HFD. Insulin and leptin sensitivity were enhanced in the exercise training group verses the HFD group. Furthermore, the HFD-impaired POMC-expressing neuron is remarkably restored in the exercise training group. The restoration of POMC neuron number may be due to neuroprotective effects of exercise on POMC neurons, as evidenced by altered proliferation and apoptosis. In conclusion, our data suggest that voluntary exercise training improves metabolic symptoms induced by HFD, in part through protected POMC-expressing neuron from HFD and enhanced leptin signaling in the hypothalamus that regulates whole-body energy homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenton T Laing
- Department of KinesiologyEast Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity InstituteEast Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Khoa Do
- Department of KinesiologyEast Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity InstituteEast Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Tomoko Matsubara
- Department of KinesiologyEast Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity InstituteEast Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - David W Wert
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity InstituteEast Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael J Avery
- Department of KinesiologyEast Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Erin M Langdon
- Department of KinesiologyEast Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Donghai Zheng
- Department of KinesiologyEast Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity InstituteEast Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA Human Performance LaboratoryCollage of Human Performance and Health, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hu Huang
- Department of KinesiologyEast Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity InstituteEast Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA Human Performance LaboratoryCollage of Human Performance and Health, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA Department of PhysiologyEast Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
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43
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Substantial and robust changes in microRNA transcriptome support postnatal development of the hypothalamus in rat. Sci Rep 2016; 6:24896. [PMID: 27118433 PMCID: PMC4847009 DOI: 10.1038/srep24896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) modulate gene expression in male germ cells and somatic tissues of mammals on a genome-wide scale. Hundreds of miRNAs are encoded by mammalian genomes, a large fraction of which is expressed in brain. Here we have investigated the complexity and dynamics of miRNA transcriptomes that associate with neuronal network maturation of hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and median eminence (ARC/ME) in rat by analysing more than 300 miRNAs from 3-7 biological replicates at 5 postnatal time-points. The network connecting ARC/ME to other hypothalamic and extra-hypothalamic regions maturates in an environment-dependent manner. We therefore analyzed miRNA transcriptomes of progeny of dams fed either a balanced or unbalanced diet during gestation and lactation. More than 30% of the miRNAs displayed significative changes of expression between stages P8 and P14, and P21 and P28; half of the changes were greater than 3-fold. Among those miRNAs were well-known and dozens of still poorly documented miRNAs. Progeny of dams fed an unbanced diet displayed a severe growth retardation phenotype, lower levels of plasma leptin but almost identical miRNA transcriptomes. Together these data demonstrate that two substantial and robust changes in miRNA transcriptome of ARC/ME occur at a period crucial for neuronal network functional organization.
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Webber ES, Bonci A, Krashes MJ. The elegance of energy balance: Insight from circuit-level manipulations. Synapse 2016; 69:461-74. [PMID: 26126768 DOI: 10.1002/syn.21837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2015] [Revised: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Mechanisms of energy balance were first examined using very powerful neuroscience techniques such as lesions and electrical stimulation. This early work identified the hypothalamus as a key structure involved in hunger and feeding; however, neural resolution of cell-defined populations contributing to appetite regulation remained elusive. Recent innovations in neuroscience have produced constructs that allow for a high degree of specificity in loss- and gain-of-function manipulations in molecularly circumscribed neural subsets as well as monosynaptic circuit mapping and in vivo neurophysiology. These complimentary techniques have provided researchers an unprecedented amount of empirical agility. As a result, cell populations in two subregions of the hypothalamus have emerged as key players in the physiological control of feeding behavior. The arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus contain neural populations that have a direct role in the promotion of hunger and satiety. These include neurons that express agouti-related peptide, pro-opiomelanocortin, single-minded homolog 1 protein, and the melanocortin-4 receptor. This review focuses on how these neural subsets communicate with one another, link up to build elaborate networks, and ultimately contribute to alterations in food intake. The continuing advancement of neuroscience tools, as well as a multimodal integration of findings, will be critical in illuminating an exhaustive and clinically relevant hunger circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily S Webber
- Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Diabetes, Endocrinology and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Antonello Bonci
- National Institute of Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Michael J Krashes
- Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Diabetes, Endocrinology and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.,National Institute of Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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Derghal A, Djelloul M, Airault C, Pierre C, Dallaporta M, Troadec JD, Tillement V, Tardivel C, Bariohay B, Trouslard J, Mounien L. Leptin is required for hypothalamic regulation of miRNAs targeting POMC 3'UTR. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:172. [PMID: 25999818 PMCID: PMC4422035 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) monitors modifications in metabolic parameters or hormone levels and elicits adaptive responses such as food intake regulation. Particularly, within the hypothalamus, leptin modulates the activity of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons which are critical regulators of energy balance. Consistent with a pivotal role of the melanocortin system in the control of energy homeostasis, disruption of the POMC gene causes hyperphagia and obesity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally repress the expression of genes by binding to 3′-untranslated regions (3′UTR) of the target mRNAs. However, little is known regarding the role of miRNAs that target POMC 3′UTR in the central control energy homeostasis. Particularly, their interaction with the leptin signaling pathway remain unclear. First, we used common prediction programs to search for potential miRNAs target sites on 3′UTR of POMC mRNA. This screening identified a set of conserved miRNAs seed sequences for mir-383, mir-384-3p, and mir-488. We observed that mir-383, mir-384-3p, and mir-488 are up-regulated in the hypothalamus of leptin deficient ob/ob mice. In accordance with these observations, we also showed that mir-383, mir-384-3p, and mir-488 were increased in db/db mice that exhibit a non-functional leptin receptor. The intraperitoneal injection of leptin down-regulated the expression of these miRNAs of interest in the hypothalamus of ob/ob mice showing the involvement of leptin in the expression of mir-383, mir-384-3p, and mir-488. Finally, the evaluation of responsivity to intracerebroventricular administration of leptin exhibited that a chronic treatment with leptin decreased mir-488 expression in hypothalamus of C57BL/6 mice. In summary, these results suggest that leptin modulates the expression of miRNAs that target POMC mRNA in hypothalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adel Derghal
- Faculté des Sciences, Aix Marseille Université, PPSN EA 4674 Marseille, France
| | - Mehdi Djelloul
- Faculté des Sciences, Aix Marseille Université, PPSN EA 4674 Marseille, France ; Stem Cell Laboratory for CNS Disease Modeling, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Centre, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University Lund, Sweden
| | - Coraline Airault
- Faculté des Sciences, Aix Marseille Université, PPSN EA 4674 Marseille, France
| | - Clément Pierre
- Biomeostasis, Nutritional Behavior and Metabolic Disorders Marseille, France
| | - Michel Dallaporta
- Faculté des Sciences, Aix Marseille Université, PPSN EA 4674 Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Denis Troadec
- Faculté des Sciences, Aix Marseille Université, PPSN EA 4674 Marseille, France
| | - Vanessa Tillement
- Faculté des Sciences, Aix Marseille Université, PPSN EA 4674 Marseille, France
| | - Catherine Tardivel
- Faculté des Sciences, Aix Marseille Université, PPSN EA 4674 Marseille, France
| | - Bruno Bariohay
- Biomeostasis, Nutritional Behavior and Metabolic Disorders Marseille, France
| | - Jérôme Trouslard
- Faculté des Sciences, Aix Marseille Université, PPSN EA 4674 Marseille, France
| | - Lourdes Mounien
- Faculté des Sciences, Aix Marseille Université, PPSN EA 4674 Marseille, France
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Schneeberger M, Gomez-Valadés AG, Ramirez S, Gomis R, Claret M. Hypothalamic miRNAs: emerging roles in energy balance control. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:41. [PMID: 25729348 PMCID: PMC4325937 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamus is a crucial central nervous system area controlling appetite, body weight and metabolism. It consists in multiple neuronal types that sense, integrate and generate appropriate responses to hormonal and nutritional signals partly by fine-tuning the expression of specific batteries of genes. However, the mechanisms regulating these neuronal gene programmes in physiology and pathophysiology are not completely understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression that recently emerged as pivotal modulators of systemic metabolism. In this article we will review current evidence indicating that miRNAs in hypothalamic neurons are also implicated in appetite and whole-body energy balance control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Schneeberger
- Diabetes and Obesity Research Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer Barcelona, Spain ; Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, School of Medicine, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona Barcelona, Spain ; CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alicia G Gomez-Valadés
- Diabetes and Obesity Research Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer Barcelona, Spain ; CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Ramirez
- Diabetes and Obesity Research Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramon Gomis
- Diabetes and Obesity Research Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer Barcelona, Spain ; Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, School of Medicine, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona Barcelona, Spain ; CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Claret
- Diabetes and Obesity Research Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer Barcelona, Spain ; CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas Barcelona, Spain
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Mang GM, Pradervand S, Du NH, Arpat AB, Preitner F, Wigger L, Gatfield D, Franken P. A neuron-specific deletion of the microRNA-processing enzyme DICER induces severe but transient obesity in mice. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0116760. [PMID: 25629159 PMCID: PMC4309537 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Accepted: 12/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. MiRNAs are implicated in various biological processes associated with obesity, including adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism. We used a neuronal-specific inhibition of miRNA maturation in adult mice to study the consequences of miRNA loss on obesity development. Camk2a-CreERT2 (Cre+) and floxed Dicer (Dicerlox/lox) mice were crossed to generate tamoxifen-inducible conditional Dicer knockouts (cKO). Vehicle- and/or tamoxifen-injected Cre+;Dicerlox/lox and Cre+;Dicer+/+ served as controls. Four cohorts were used to a) measure body composition, b) follow food intake and body weight dynamics, c) evaluate basal metabolism and effects of food deprivation, and d) assess the brain transcriptome consequences of miRNA loss. cKO mice developed severe obesity and gained 18 g extra weight over the 5 weeks following tamoxifen injection, mainly due to increased fat mass. This phenotype was highly reproducible and observed in all 38 cKO mice recorded and in none of the controls, excluding possible effects of tamoxifen or the non-induced transgene. Development of obesity was concomitant with hyperphagia, increased food efficiency, and decreased activity. Surprisingly, after reaching maximum body weight, obese cKO mice spontaneously started losing weight as rapidly as it was gained. Weight loss was accompanied by lowered O2-consumption and respiratory-exchange ratio. Brain transcriptome analyses in obese mice identified several obesity-related pathways (e.g. leptin, somatostatin, and nemo-like kinase signaling), as well as genes involved in feeding and appetite (e.g. Pmch, Neurotensin) and in metabolism (e.g. Bmp4, Bmp7, Ptger1, Cox7a1). A gene cluster with anti-correlated expression in the cerebral cortex of post-obese compared to obese mice was enriched for synaptic plasticity pathways. While other studies have identified a role for miRNAs in obesity, we here present a unique model that allows for the study of processes involved in reversing obesity. Moreover, our study identified the cortex as a brain area important for body weight homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Géraldine M. Mang
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sylvain Pradervand
- Genomic Technologies Facility, Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Vital-IT, SIB-Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ngoc-Hien Du
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alaaddin Bulak Arpat
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Vital-IT, SIB-Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Frédéric Preitner
- Mouse Metabolic Evaluation Facility, Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Leonore Wigger
- Genomic Technologies Facility, Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Vital-IT, SIB-Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David Gatfield
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paul Franken
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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48
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Kim JD, Leyva S, Diano S. Hormonal regulation of the hypothalamic melanocortin system. Front Physiol 2014; 5:480. [PMID: 25538630 PMCID: PMC4260486 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulation of energy homeostasis is fundamental for life. In animal species and humans, the Central Nervous System (CNS) plays a critical role in such regulation by integrating peripheral signals and modulating behavior and the activity of peripheral organs. A precise interplay between CNS and peripheral signals is necessary for the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure in the maintenance of energy balance. Within the CNS, the hypothalamus is a critical center for monitoring, processing and responding to peripheral signals, including hormones such as ghrelin, leptin, and insulin. Once in the brain, peripheral signals regulate neuronal systems involved in the modulation of energy homeostasis. The main hypothalamic neuronal circuit in the regulation of energy metabolism is the melanocortin system. This review will give a summary of the most recent discoveries on the hormonal regulation of the hypothalamic melanocortin system in the control of energy homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung D Kim
- Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, CT, USA ; Program in Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Stephanie Leyva
- Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, CT, USA ; Program in Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sabrina Diano
- Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, CT, USA ; Program in Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, CT, USA ; Department of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, CT, USA ; Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, CT, USA
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Jeong JK, Kim JG, Lee BJ. Participation of the central melanocortin system in metabolic regulation and energy homeostasis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2014; 71:3799-809. [PMID: 24894870 PMCID: PMC11113577 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-014-1650-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Revised: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Obesity and metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension, have attracted considerable attention as life-threatening diseases not only in developed countries but also worldwide. Additionally, the rate of obesity in young people all over the world is rapidly increasing. Accumulated evidence suggests that the central nervous system may participate in the development of and/or protection from obesity. For example, in the brain, the hypothalamic melanocortin system senses and integrates central and peripheral metabolic signals and controls the degree of energy expenditure and feeding behavior, in concert with metabolic status, to regulate whole-body energy homeostasis. Currently, researchers are studying the mechanisms by which peripheral metabolic molecules control feeding behavior and energy balance through the central melanocortin system. Accordingly, recent studies have revealed that some inflammatory molecules and transcription factors participate in feeding behavior and energy balance by controlling the central melanocortin pathway, and have thus become new candidates as therapeutic targets to fight metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Kwon Jeong
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004 USA
| | - Jae Geun Kim
- Program in Integrative Cell Signaling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520 USA
| | - Byung Ju Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, 680-749 South Korea
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Neonatal melanocortin receptor agonist treatment reduces play fighting and promotes adult attachment in prairie voles in a sex-dependent manner. Neuropharmacology 2014; 85:357-66. [PMID: 24923239 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.05.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2014] [Revised: 05/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The melanocortin receptor (MCR) system has been studied extensively for its role in feeding and sexual behavior, but effects on social behavior have received little attention. α-MSH interacts with neural systems involved in sociality, including oxytocin, dopamine, and opioid systems. Acute melanotan-II (MTII), an MC3/4R agonist, potentiates brain oxytocin (OT) release and facilitates OT-dependent partner preference formation in socially monogamous prairie voles. Here we examined the long-term impact of early-life MCR stimulation on hypothalamic neuronal activity and social development in prairie voles. Male and female voles were given daily subcutaneous injections of 10 mg/kg MTII or saline between postnatal days (PND) 1-7. Neonatally-treated males displayed a reduction in initiated play fighting bouts as juveniles compared to control males. Neonatal exposure to MTII facilitated partner preference formation in adult females, but not males, after a brief cohabitation with an opposite-sex partner. Acute MTII injection elicited a significant burst of the immediate early gene EGR-1 immunoreactivity in hypothalamic OT, vasopressin, and corticotrophin releasing factor neurons, when tested in PND 6-7 animals. Daily neonatal treatment with 1 mg/kg of a more selective, brain penetrant MC4R agonist, PF44687, promoted adult partner preferences in both females and males compared with vehicle controls. Thus, developmental exposure to MCR agonists lead to a persistent change in social behavior, suggestive of structural or functional changes in the neural circuits involved in the formation of social relationships.
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