Hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA is reduced by fasting and [corrected] in ob/ob and db/db mice, but is stimulated by leptin

Mizuno, Tooru M.; Kleopoulos, Steven P.; Bergen, Hugo; Roberts, James L.; Priest, C. A.; Mobbs, Charles V.

doi:10.2337/diabetes.47.2.294

Cited by 191 publications

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“…It is known that fasting, which is a state of low serum leptin levels, results in reduced amounts of POMC mRNA levels. This reduction is also seen in the hypothalamus of the leptin-deficient ob͞ob mice (13)(14)(15)(16). In addition, hypothalamic POMC mRNA is stimulated by the administration of recombinant leptin to rodents (16).…”

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confidence: 70%

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N-acetylation of hypothalamic α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and regulation by leptin

Guo

Münzberg

Stuart

et al. 2004

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The central melanocortin system is critical in the regulation of appetite and body weight, and leptin exerts its anorexigenic actions partly by increasing hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) expression. The POMC-derived peptide ␣-melanocytestimulating hormone (␣MSH) is a melanocortin 4 receptor agonist, and its potency in reducing energy intake is strongly increased by N-acetylation. The reason for the higher biological activity of N-acetylated ␣MSH (Act-␣MSH) compared with that of N-desacetylated ␣MSH (Des-␣MSH) is unclear, and regulation of acetylation by leptin has not been investigated. We show here that total hypothalamic ␣MSH levels are decreased in leptin-deficient ob͞ob mice and increased in leptin-treated ob͞ob and C57BL͞6J mice. The increase in total ␣MSH occurred as soon as 3 h after leptin injection and was entirely due to an increase in Act-␣MSH. Consistent with this observation, leptin rapidly induced the enzymatic activity of a N-acetyltransferase in the hypothalamus of mice. In 293T cells expressing the melanocortin 4 receptor, Act-␣MSH is far more potent than Des-␣MSH in stimulating cAMP accumulation, an effect caused by a dramatically increased stability of Act-␣MSH. Moreover, Des-␣MSH is rapidly degraded in the hypothalamus after intracerebroventricular injection in rats and was less potent in inhibiting energy intake. The results suggest that leptin activates a N-acetyltransferase in POMC neurons, leading to increased hypothalamic levels of Act-␣MSH. Due to its increased stability, this posttranslational modification of ␣MSH may play a critical role in leptin action via the central melanocortin pathway.T he adipocyte-derived hormone leptin is expressed in fat tissue and acts on the central nervous system to inform key regulatory centers about energy stores (1-3). Leptin receptors (ObRs) are highly expressed within the hypothalamus, including in proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons located in the arcuate nucleus (4, 5). POMC-derived neuropeptides, primarily ␣-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (␣MSH), activate the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) and function downstream of leptin signaling to regulate energy balance, although other pathways are also important (6-10). Supporting the role of the melanocortin pathway in leptin action are data showing that central injection of synthetic melanocortin receptor antagonists inhibits the effect of leptin to reduce food intake (10). Furthermore, mutations in the pomc and mc4r genes result in severe obesity in mice (6, 11) and humans (7,12).Studies investigating the regulation of POMC neurons by leptin have focused mainly on gene expression analyses. It is known that fasting, which is a state of low serum leptin levels, results in reduced amounts of POMC mRNA levels. This reduction is also seen in the hypothalamus of the leptin-deficient ob͞ob mice (13-16). In addition, hypothalamic POMC mRNA is stimulated by the administration of recombinant leptin to rodents (16). However, few studies have examined regulation of hypothalamic POMC-derived peptides, such as ...

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confidence: 70%

“…This reduction is also seen in the hypothalamus of the leptin-deficient ob͞ob mice (13)(14)(15)(16). In addition, hypothalamic POMC mRNA is stimulated by the administration of recombinant leptin to rodents (16). However, few studies have examined regulation of hypothalamic POMC-derived peptides, such as ␣MSH, in response to leptin.…”

mentioning

confidence: 95%

N-acetylation of hypothalamic α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and regulation by leptin

Guo

Münzberg

Stuart

et al. 2004

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…Reduced expression of hypothalamic Pomc is associated with obesity syndromes caused by: (1) mutations in any of several genes, including leptin receptor [7,8], tubby [9] and Nhlh2 [10]; (2) hypothalamic damage [11]; and (3), perhaps most commonly, by ageing [12]. Reduced hypothalamic Pomc mRNA may be one contributor to the obese phenotypes in these models because mutations in the Pomc gene cause obesity in mice [13] and humans [14].…”

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confidence: 99%

Hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin gene delivery ameliorates obesity and glucose intolerance in aged rats

Zhang

Wilsey

et al. 2005

Diabetologia

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Aims/hypothesis: Age-related obesity is associated with impaired hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (Pomc) gene expression. We assessed whether overproduction of POMC in the hypothalamus ameliorates age-related obesity in rats. Methods: Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) encoding Pomc (rAAV-Pomc) or control vector was delivered bilaterally into the basomedial hypothalamus of aged obese rats with coordinates targeting the arcuate nucleus. Energy balance, glucose metabolism, brown adipose tissue thermogenesis and mRNA levels of hypothalamic neuropeptides and melanocortin receptors were assessed. Results: Forty-two days after Pomc gene delivery, hypothalamic Pomc expression increased 12-fold while agouti-related protein and neuropeptide Y mRNA levels remained unchanged. Using a punch technique, we detected the highest Pomc RNA level in the arcuate nucleus. Pomc overexpression reduced food consumption from day 10 after vector injection, but this anorexic effect abated by day 30. In contrast, there was a steady decrease in body weight without apparent attenuation. Pomc gene delivery decreased visceral adiposity and induced uncoupling protein 1 in brown adipose tissue in aged rats. Serum NEFA and triglyceride levels were also diminished by rAAV-Pomc treatment. Improved glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity were observed on day 36 but not day 20 after Pomc gene delivery. The expression of hypothalamic melanocortin 3 and 4 receptor decreased by 17% and 25%, respectively in rAAV-Pomc rats. Conclusions/ interpretation: This study demonstrates that targeted Pomc gene therapy in the hypothalamus reduces body weight and visceral adiposity, and improves glucose and fat metabolism in aged obese rats. Thus long-term activation of the central melanocortin system may be a viable strategy to combat age-related obesity and diabetes.

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“…65,66 In addition, POMC mRNA in the Arc is markedly reduced in leptin-deficient ob/ob mice as well as in fasted rodents (when leptin levels rapidly fall). 75,76 The decrease in POMC expression is prevented by leptin administration. [74][75][76] Finally, leptin directly depolarizes POMC neurons.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…75,76 The decrease in POMC expression is prevented by leptin administration. [74][75][76] Finally, leptin directly depolarizes POMC neurons. 69 Of importance, a-MSH acts as an agonist for the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4-R), 70,77,78 a Gs-proteincoupled receptor distributed in the CNS.…”

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confidence: 99%

Body weight is regulated by the brain: a link between feeding and emotion

2005

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Regulated energy homeostasis is fundamental for maintaining life. Unfortunately, this critical process is affected in a high number of mentally ill patients. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa are prevalent in modern societies. Impaired appetite and weight loss are common in patients with depression. In addition, the use of neuroleptics frequently produces obesity and diabetes mellitus. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of these behavioral and metabolic conditions are largely unknown. In this review, we first concentrate on the established brain machinery of food intake and body weight, especially on the melanocortin and neuropeptide Y (NPY) systems as illustration. These systems play a critical role in receiving and processing critical peripheral metabolic cues such as leptin and ghrelin. It is also notable that both systems modulate emotion and motivated behavior as well. Secondly, we discuss the significance and potential promise of multidisciplinary molecular and neuroanatomic techniques that will likely increase the understanding of brain circuitries coordinating energy homeostasis and emotion. Finally, we introduce several lines of evidence suggesting a link between the melanocortin/NPY systems and several neurotransmitter systems on which many of the psychotropic agents exert their influence. Maintaining energy homeostasis is fundamental for survival. However, obesity due to over-nutrition is an increasing worldwide public health problem. 1 In psychiatric practice, on the other hand, impaired appetite is one of the crucial issues. Anorexia and weight loss are common, for example, in patients suffering from depression. Eating disorders are medically intractable and life threatening. In addition, the so-called 'atypical' antipsychotic agents, currently and widely used to treat psychoses, often induce hyperphagia, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. [2][3][4] In the past decade, fortunately, there has been remarkable progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of food intake and body weight. This is due in large part to increased research activity towards combating the rising incidences of obesity and associated metabolic disorders. As a result, it is now established that the central nervous system (CNS) senses and processes peripheral metabolic cues including leptin 5 and ghrelin, 6,7 resulting in coordinated energy homeostasis. However, the pathophysiology of the disequilibrium between energy intake and expenditure in psychiatric disorders remains largely unknown. Nevertheless, evidence suggests that several CNS systems regulating energy balance may be dysregulated in patients with mental illnesses, for example, eating disorders, and drug addiction. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] In the current review, we will illustrate the neuroanatomic and molecular genetic aspects of the melanocortin and neuropeptide Y (NPY) systems residing in the CNS downstream of leptin and ghrelin, to discuss the neural bases of feeding, metabolism, and emotion. Additionally, we point the reader to...

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Hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA is reduced by fasting and [corrected] in ob/ob and db/db mice, but is stimulated by leptin

Cited by 191 publications

References 0 publications

N-acetylation of hypothalamic α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and regulation by leptin

N-acetylation of hypothalamic α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and regulation by leptin

Hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin gene delivery ameliorates obesity and glucose intolerance in aged rats

Body weight is regulated by the brain: a link between feeding and emotion

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