Control of body weight homeostasis by specialized brain-adipose loop neurons
Event details
| Date | 23.02.2023 |
| Hour | 14:00 › 15:30 |
| Speaker | Dr. Alessandro Furlan |
| Location | Online |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
| Event Language | English |
Abstract: Disruption of homeostasis can lead to obesity, a major health issue. According to the canonical view, body weight homeostasis is achieved via a cross-talk between hormones, released by fat cells, the adipocytes, in the bloodstream (e.g. leptin), and a regulatory system in the brain, whose neurons coordinate the appropriate behavioral (e.g. eating) and physiological response. Apart from some rare genetic conditions, the biological drivers of over-eating are unclear. We found that neurotensin-expressing neurons in the mouse interstitial nucleus of the posterior limb of the anterior commissure (IPAC), a nucleus of the central extended amygdala, encode dietary preference for unhealthy energy-dense foods. Acute activation and inhibition of IPACNts neurons increase and decrease feeding, respectively, and modulate the mouse’s food preference. Chronic inactivation of IPACNts neurons also reduces food intake, enhances energy expenditure via locomotion, and increases fat burning. As a result, mice display long-term weight loss and are protected from obesity. Thus, the activity of a single neuronal population bidirectionally regulates energy homeostasis. These findings offer an entry point to disentangle the complex brain-fat circuitry responsible for weight homeostasis. We hypothesize that the peripheral nervous system enables bilateral interaction between the fat cells and specialized “loop” neurons, in the brain. Uncovering the role of non-hormonal brain-body communication in the regulation of energy homeostasis will radically transform our understanding of weight regulation in health and disease and lead to the discovery of new molecular targets to develop therapeutic strategies against obesity.
Practical information
- General public
- Free