scholarly journals STAT3 but Not ERK2 Is a Crucial Mediator Against Diet-Induced Obesity via VMH Neurons

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Henrique Marques Gonçalves ◽  
Sabrina Mara Tristão ◽  
Rafaella Eduarda Volpi ◽  
Gislaine Almeida-Pereira ◽  
Beatriz de Carvalho Borges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Specific Pattern ◽  
Conditional Knockout ◽  
Steroidogenic Factor 1 ◽  
Diet Induced Obesity ◽  
Affect Body Weight

Leptin plays an important role in the protection against diet-induced obesity (DIO) by its actions in ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) neurons. However, little is known about the intracellular mechanisms involved in these effects. To assess the role of the STAT3 and ERK2 signaling in neurons that express the steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) in the VMH on energy homeostasis, we used cre-lox technology to generate male and female mice with specific disruption of STAT3 or ERK2 in SF1 neurons of the VMH. We demonstrated that the conditional knockout of STAT3 in SF1 neurons of the VMH did not affect body weight, food intake, energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis in animals on regular chow. However, when challenged with high-fat diet (HFD), loss of STAT3 in SF1 neurons caused a significant increase in body weight, food intake and energy efficiency that was more remarkable in females which also showed a decrease in energy expenditure. In contrast, deletion of ERK2 in SF1 neurons of VMH did not have any impact on energy homeostasis in both regular diet and HFD conditions. In conclusion, STAT3 but not ERK2 signaling in SF1 neurons of VMH plays a crucial role to protect against DIO in a sex-specific pattern.

scholarly journals STAT3 but Not ERK2 Is a Crucial Mediator Against Diet-Induced Obesity via VMH Neurons

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Henrique Marques Gonçalves ◽  
Sabrina Mara Tristão ◽  
Rafaella Eduarda Volpi ◽  
Gislaine Almeida-Pereira ◽  
Beatriz de Carvalho Borges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Specific Pattern ◽  
Conditional Knockout ◽  
Steroidogenic Factor 1 ◽  
Diet Induced Obesity ◽  
Affect Body Weight

Leptin plays an important role in the protection against diet-induced obesity (DIO) by its actions in ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) neurons. However, little is known about the intracellular mechanisms involved in these effects. To assess the role of the STAT3 and ERK2 signaling in neurons that express the steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) in the VMH on energy homeostasis, we used cre-lox technology to generate male and female mice with specific disruption of STAT3 or ERK2 in SF1 neurons of the VMH. We demonstrated that the conditional knockout of STAT3 in SF1 neurons of the VMH did not affect body weight, food intake, energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis in animals on regular chow. However, when challenged with high-fat diet (HFD), loss of STAT3 in SF1 neurons caused a significant increase in body weight, food intake and energy efficiency that was more remarkable in females which also showed a decrease in energy expenditure. In contrast, deletion of ERK2 in SF1 neurons of VMH did not have any impact on energy homeostasis in both regular diet and HFD conditions. In conclusion, STAT3 but not ERK2 signaling in SF1 neurons of VMH plays a crucial role to protect against DIO in a sex-specific pattern.

scholarly journals The central melanocortin system and human obesity

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongjie Yang ◽  
Yong Xu
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Human Obesity ◽  
Melanocortin System ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity

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.

scholarly journals Susceptibility to diet induced obesity at thermoneutral conditions is independent of UCP1

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Dieckmann ◽  
Akim Strohmeyer ◽  
Monja Willershaeuser ◽  
Stefanie Maurer ◽  
Wolfgang Wurst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Uncoupling Protein ◽  
Exon 2 ◽  
Diet Induced Obesity ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Knockout Model

Objective Activation of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in brown adipose tissue (BAT) upon cold stimulation leads to substantial increase in energy expenditure to defend body temperature. Increases in energy expenditure after a high caloric food intake, termed diet-induced thermogenesis, are also attributed to BAT. These properties render BAT a potential target to combat diet-induced obesity. However, studies investigating the role of UCP1 to protect against diet-induced obesity are controversial and rely on the phenotyping of a single constitutive UCP1-knockout model. To address this issue, we generated a novel UCP1-knockout model by Cre-mediated deletion of Exon 2 in the UCP1 gene. We studied the effect of constitutive UCP1 knockout on metabolism and the development of diet-induced obesity. Methods UCP1 knockout and wildtype mice were housed at 30°C and fed a control diet for 4-weeks followed by 8-weeks of high-fat diet. Body weight and food intake were monitored continuously over the course of the study and indirect calorimetry was used to determine energy expenditure during both feeding periods. Results Based on Western blot analysis, thermal imaging and noradrenaline test, we confirmed the lack of functional UCP1 in knockout mice. However, body weight gain, food intake and energy expenditure were not affected by deletion of UCP1 gene function during both feeding periods. Conclusion Conclusively, we show that UCP1 does not protect against diet-induced obesity at thermoneutrality. Further we introduce a novel UCP1-KO mouse enabling the generation of conditional UCP1-knockout mice to scrutinize the contribution of UCP1 to energy metabolism in different cell types or life stages.

scholarly journals Antiobesity Effects of the β-Cell Hormone Amylin in Diet-Induced Obese Rats: Effects on Food Intake, Body Weight, Composition, Energy Expenditure, and Gene Expression

Endocrinology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 147 (12) ◽  
pp. 5855-5864 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan D. Roth ◽  
Heather Hughes ◽  
Eric Kendall ◽  
Alain D. Baron ◽  
Christen M. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Respiratory Quotient ◽  
Metabolic Effects ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Lean Tissue ◽  
Reduced Body ◽  
Diet Induced Obesity ◽  
Cell Hormone

Effects of amylin and pair feeding (PF) on body weight and metabolic parameters were characterized in diet-induced obesity-prone rats. Peripherally administered rat amylin (300 μg/kg·d, 22d) reduced food intake and slowed weight gain: approximately 10% (P < 0.05), similar to PF. Fat loss was 3-fold greater in amylin-treated rats vs. PF (P < 0.05). Whereas PF decreased lean tissue (P < 0.05 vs. vehicle controls; VEH), amylin did not. During wk 1, amylin and PF reduced 24-h respiratory quotient (mean ± se, 0.82 ± 0.0, 0.81 ± 0.0, respectively; P < 0.05) similar to VEH (0.84 ± 0.01). Energy expenditure (EE mean ± se) tended to be reduced by PF (5.67 ± 0.1 kcal/h·kg) and maintained by amylin (5.86 ± 0.1 kcal/h·kg) relative to VEH (5.77 ± 0.0 kcal/h·kg). By wk 3, respiratory quotient no longer differed; however, EE increased with amylin treatment (5.74 ± 0.09 kcal/·kg; P < 0.05) relative to VEH (5.49 ± 0.06) and PF (5.38 ± 0.07 kcal/h·kg). Differences in EE, attributed to differences in lean mass, argued against specific amylin-induced thermogenesis. Weight loss in amylin and pair-fed rats was accompanied by similar increases arcuate neuropeptide Y mRNA (P < 0.05). Amylin treatment, but not PF, increased proopiomelanocortin mRNA levels (P < 0.05 vs. VEH). In a rodent model of obesity, amylin reduced body weight and body fat, with relative preservation of lean tissue, through anorexigenic and specific metabolic effects.

scholarly journals The Antiobesity Effects of Centrally Administered Neuromedin U and Neuromedin S Are Mediated Predominantly by the Neuromedin U Receptor 2 (NMUR2)

Endocrinology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 150 (7) ◽  
pp. 3101-3109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Peier ◽  
Jennifer Kosinski ◽  
Kimberly Cox-York ◽  
Ying Qian ◽  
Kunal Desai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Central Administration ◽  
Diet Induced Obesity ◽  
Inhibit Food Intake ◽  
Selective Agonists ◽  
Treatment Of Obesity ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Deficient Mice

Neuromedin U (NMU) and neuromedin S (NMS) are structurally related neuropeptides that have been reported to modulate energy homeostasis. Pharmacological data have shown that NMU and NMS inhibit food intake when administered centrally and that NMU increases energy expenditure. Additionally, NMU-deficient mice develop obesity, whereas transgenic mice overexpressing NMU are lean and hypophagic. Two high-affinity NMU/NMS receptors, NMUR1 and NMUR2, have been identified. NMUR1 is predominantly expressed in the periphery, whereas NMUR2 is predominantly expressed in the brain, suggesting that the effects of centrally administered NMU and NMS are mediated by NMUR2. To evaluate the role of NMUR2 in the regulation of energy homeostasis, we characterized NMUR2-deficient (Nmur2−/−) mice. Nmur2−/− mice exhibited a modest resistance to diet-induced obesity that was at least in part due to reduced food intake. Acute central administration of NMU and NMS reduced food intake in wild-type but not in Nmur2−/− mice. The effects on activity and core temperature induced by centrally administered NMU were also absent in Nmur2−/− mice. Moreover, chronic central administration of NMU and NMS evoked significant reductions in body weight and sustained reductions in food intake in mice. In contrast, Nmur2−/− mice were largely resistant to these effects. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the anorectic and weight-reducing actions of centrally administered NMU and NMS are mediated predominantly by NMUR2, suggesting that NMUR2-selective agonists may be useful for the treatment of obesity.

Insulin and metabolic efficiency in rats. II. Effects of NE and cold exposure

1986 ◽  
Vol 251 (6) ◽  
pp. R1118-R1125
Author(s):  
T. J. Bartness ◽  
C. J. Billington ◽  
A. S. Levine ◽  
J. E. Morley ◽  
N. E. Rowland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Cold Exposure ◽  
Diabetic Rats ◽  
Metabolic Efficiency ◽  
Maximal Energy ◽  
Brown Adipose

The role of insulin in metabolic efficiency (ME, i.e., efficiency of body wt gain) was examined under conditions of maximal energy expenditure in control and diabetic rats. Long-lasting insulin was administered using a protocol that did not affect food intake and increased ME in both groups. Half the animals were injected chronically with norepinephrine (NE). NE alone in controls decreased body weight and ME and increased brown adipose tissue (BAT) growth, thermogenic potential [cytochrome c oxidase activity (COA)], and lipoprotein lipases (LPL) activity; however, in diabetics, body weight, ME, and food intake all decreased and only BAT LPL activity and DNA content increased. The combination of NE and insulin increased BAT protein and COA in diabetics; in controls, all BAT measures were further increased and ME was intermediate to that of either treatment alone. Cold exposure decreased body weight and ME, increased food intake and qualitatively produced similar increases in BAT growth, COA, and LPL activity in both controls and diabetics. In diabetics, combined cold exposure and insulin did not affect the increase in BAT growth or LPL activity resulting from either treatment alone, but in controls this combination decreased BAT growth and COA. It is concluded that, even under conditions of maximal energy expenditure, both extremes of basal insulin status result in decreased BAT growth and thermogenic potential, but have opposite effects on ME.

scholarly journals Selenium Regulates Hypothalamic Control of Energy Metabolism in a Sexually Dimorphic Manner

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1844-1844
Author(s):  
Daniel Torres ◽  
Matthew Pitts ◽  
Lucia Seale ◽  
Ann Hashimoto ◽  
Katlyn An ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Metabolism ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Glucose Tolerance ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Metabolic Phenotype ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Diet Induced Obesity

Abstract Objectives The trace element selenium (Se) is known mainly for its antioxidant properties and is critical for proper brain function. The role of Se in regulating energy metabolism, and the sexually dimorphic nature of Se functions, however, are underappreciated, and warrant increased attention. Recent work in our lab has highlighted the importance of Se utilization in hypothalamic regulation of energy metabolism. Dietary Se is incorporated into selenoproteins in the form of the unique amino acid selenocysteine (Sec). The objective of this study was to assess the role of selenoproteins in Agouti-related peptide (Agrp)-positive neurons, an orexigenic sub-population of the hypothalamus. Methods We generated mice with Agrp-Cre-driven deletion of selenocysteine tRNA (Trsp-Agrp KO mice), which is essential for Sec incorporation into selenoproteins, thus ablating selenoprotein synthesis in Agrp-positive neurons. The metabolic phenotype of Trsp-Agrp KO mice challenged with a high-fat diet was characterized via glucose tolerance test (i.p. injection) and the use of analytical chambers to measure food intake and respiratory metabolism. Prior to sacrifice, mice were challenged with leptin (i.p. injection) to assess neuronal leptin responsivity via immunohistochemistry and western blot. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) morphology and thermogenic protein expression were also analyzed. Results Female Trsp-Agrp KO mice displayed resistance to diet-induced obesity, which was accompanied by improved glucose tolerance and elevated energy expenditure levels without changes in food intake. Female Trsp-Agrp KO mice also had greater leptin sensitivity and showed signs of elevated BAT thermogenesis. Male Trsp-Agrp KO mice displayed no changes in metabolic phenotype. Conclusions Loss of selenoproteins in Agrp-positive neurons of the hypothalamus promotes energy expenditure and reduces diet-induced obesity in a sexually dimorphic manner, leading to resistance to a high-fat diet in females. Funding Sources This work was funded by grant support from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (MJB) and Ola HAWAII, a grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.

scholarly journals Recent advances in understanding the role of leptin in energy homeostasis

F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 451
Author(s):  
Heike Münzberg ◽  
Prachi Singh ◽  
Steven B. Heymsfield ◽  
Sangho Yu ◽  
Christopher D. Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Early Data ◽  
Dynamic Changes ◽  
Leptin Signaling ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Physiological Adaptations

The hormone leptin plays a critical role in energy homeostasis, although our overall understanding of acutely changing leptin levels still needs improvement. Several developments allow a fresh look at recent and early data on leptin action. This review highlights select recent publications that are relevant for understanding the role played by dynamic changes in circulating leptin levels. We further discuss the relevance for our current understanding of leptin signaling in central neuronal feeding and energy expenditure circuits and highlight cohesive and discrepant findings that need to be addressed in future studies to understand how leptin couples with physiological adaptations of food intake and energy expenditure.

scholarly journals Conditional Inactivation of Limbic Neuropeptide Y-1 Receptors Increases Vulnerability to Diet-Induced Obesity in Male Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 8745
Author(s):  
Silvia Paterlini ◽  
Riccardo Panelli ◽  
Laura Gioiosa ◽  
Stefano Parmigiani ◽  
Paolo Franceschini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Conditional Knockout ◽  
Adolescent Male ◽  
Male Mice ◽  
Glucose Levels ◽  
Diet Induced Obesity ◽  
Weight Growth ◽  
Visceral Adipose

NPY and its Y1 cognate receptor (Y1R) have been shown to be involved in the regulation of stress, anxiety, depression and energy homeostasis. We previously demonstrated that conditional knockout of Npy1r gene in the excitatory neurons of the forebrain of adolescent male mice (Npy1rrfb mice) decreased body weight growth and adipose tissue and increased anxiety. In the present study, we used the same conditional system to examine whether the targeted disruption of the Npy1r gene in limbic areas might affect susceptibility to obesity and associated disorders during adulthood in response to a 3-week high-fat diet (HFD) regimen. We demonstrated that following HFD exposure, Npy1rrfb male mice showed increased body weight, visceral adipose tissue, and blood glucose levels, hyperphagia and a dysregulation of calory intake as compared to control Npy1r2lox mice. These results suggest that low expression of Npy1r in limbic areas impairs habituation to high caloric food and causes high susceptibility to diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance in male mice, uncovering a specific contribution of the limbic Npy1r gene in the dysregulation of the eating/satiety balance.

Abstract 053: Uncoupling the Metabolic and Cardiovascular Actions of Leptin through mTORC1 Signaling

Hypertension ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Balyssa B Bell ◽  
Donald A Morgan ◽  
Mohamed Rouabhi ◽  
Kamal Rahmouni
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Arterial Pressure ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Conditional Knockout ◽  
Mtorc1 Signaling ◽  
Nerve Recordings

The adipocyte-derived hormone leptin has a well-established role in the regulation of energy homeostasis, acting in the brain to decrease food intake and promote energy expenditure. Additionally, leptin increases regional sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and arterial pressure. Multiple intracellular signaling cascades are activated by leptin via its long form receptor (LRb), but the specific roles of these pathways in mediating leptin’s various effects have not been fully understood. Recent evidences suggest that the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) plays an important role in mediating leptin action. To determine the contribution of mTORC1 to the metabolic and cardiovascular effects of leptin, we generated conditional knockout mice that lack the critical mTORC1 subunit, Raptor, specifically in LRb-expressing cells (LRb Cre /Raptor fl/fl ). Interestingly, body weight was comparable between LRb Cre /Raptor fl/fl mice and controls (29.6±0.8 g vs 31.0±0.8g at 14 weeks of age). Moreover, leptin treatment (1μg/g bw, intraperitoneally, twice daily for 4 days) led to a similar decrease in food intake (-1.6±0.8 g in LRb Cre /Raptor fl/fl mice vs -1.1±1.7 g in controls) and body weight (-5.9±0.8% vs -5.7±0.7%) in both groups. Next, we measured arterial pressure using radiotelemetry at baseline and in response to 2 μg intracerebroventricular (ICV) leptin. Baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP) was comparable between LRb Cre /Raptor fl/fl mice (108±9 mmHg) and controls (103±7 mmHg). However, ICV leptin significantly increased MAP in control mice (30±14 mmHg), but not in LRb Cre /Raptor fl/fl mice (1±9 mmHg, P<0.05 vs controls). The same pattern was observed for systolic and diastolic arterial pressure. Consistent with leptin’s action on MAP, we observed a significant increase in renal SNA in response to ICV leptin in control littermates (106±20%) that was absent in LRb Cre /Raptor fl/fl mice (-28±11%, P<0.05 vs controls) as determined by multifiber sympathetic nerve recordings. Our data suggest a critical role for mTORC1 signaling in mediating the cardiovascular sympathetic but not the metabolic actions of leptin, a dissociation that may have important implications for obesity-associated hypertension.

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