RESUMO
The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is a glutamate-activated cation channel that is critical to many processes in the brain. Genome-wide association studies suggest that glutamatergic neurotransmission and NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic plasticity are important for body weight homeostasis1. Here we report the engineering and preclinical development of a bimodal molecule that integrates NMDA receptor antagonism with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonism to effectively reverse obesity, hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia in rodent models of metabolic disease. GLP-1-directed delivery of the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 affects neuroplasticity in the hypothalamus and brainstem. Importantly, targeting of MK-801 to GLP-1 receptor-expressing brain regions circumvents adverse physiological and behavioural effects associated with MK-801 monotherapy. In summary, our approach demonstrates the feasibility of using peptide-mediated targeting to achieve cell-specific ionotropic receptor modulation and highlights the therapeutic potential of unimolecular mixed GLP-1 receptor agonism and NMDA receptor antagonism for safe and effective obesity treatment.
Assuntos
Maleato de Dizocilpina , Peptídeo 1 Semelhante ao Glucagon , Receptor do Peptídeo Semelhante ao Glucagon 1 , Obesidade , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato , Animais , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos , Ratos , Tronco Encefálico/metabolismo , Tronco Encefálico/efeitos dos fármacos , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Maleato de Dizocilpina/efeitos adversos , Maleato de Dizocilpina/farmacologia , Maleato de Dizocilpina/uso terapêutico , Dislipidemias/tratamento farmacológico , Dislipidemias/metabolismo , Peptídeo 1 Semelhante ao Glucagon/metabolismo , Receptor do Peptídeo Semelhante ao Glucagon 1/agonistas , Receptor do Peptídeo Semelhante ao Glucagon 1/metabolismo , Hiperglicemia/tratamento farmacológico , Hiperglicemia/metabolismo , Hipotálamo/efeitos dos fármacos , Hipotálamo/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Plasticidade Neuronal/efeitos dos fármacos , Obesidade/tratamento farmacológico , Obesidade/metabolismo , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Ratos Wistar , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/metabolismo , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/antagonistas & inibidoresRESUMO
Human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) suggest a functional role for central glutamate receptor signaling and plasticity in body weight regulation. Here, we use UK Biobank GWAS summary statistics of body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) to identify genes encoding proteins known to interact with postsynaptic α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Loci in/near discs large homolog 4 (DLG4) and protein interacting with C kinase 1 (PICK1) reached genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10-8) for BF% and/or BMI. To further evaluate the functional role of postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95; gene name: DLG4) and PICK1 in energy homeostasis, we used dimeric PSD-95/disc large/ZO-1 (PDZ) domain-targeting peptides of PSD-95 and PICK1 to demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition of PSD-95 and PICK1 induces prolonged weight-lowering effects in obese mice. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the glutamate receptor scaffolding proteins, PICK1 and PSD-95, are genetically linked to obesity and that pharmacological targeting of their PDZ domains represents a promising therapeutic avenue for sustained weight loss.
Assuntos
Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Receptores de AMPA , Animais , Humanos , Camundongos , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal/metabolismo , Proteína 4 Homóloga a Disks-Large/genética , Proteína 4 Homóloga a Disks-Large/metabolismo , Receptores de AMPA/genética , Receptores de AMPA/metabolismo , Receptores de Glutamato/genética , Receptores de Glutamato/metabolismo , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/genéticaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: There is significant interest in uncovering the mechanisms through which exercise enhances cognition, memory, and mood, and lowers the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we utilize forced treadmill running and distance-matched voluntary wheel running, coupled with light sheet 3D brain imaging and c-Fos immunohistochemistry, to generate a comprehensive atlas of exercise-induced brain activation in mice. METHODS: To investigate the effects of exercise on brain activity, we compared whole-brain activation profiles of mice subjected to treadmill running with mice subjected to distance-matched wheel running. Male mice were assigned to one of four groups: a) an acute bout of voluntary wheel running, b) confinement to a cage with a locked running wheel, c) forced treadmill running, or d) placement on an inactive treadmill. Immediately following each exercise or control intervention, blood samples were collected for plasma analysis, and brains were collected for whole-brain c-Fos quantification. RESULTS: Our dataset reveals 255 brain regions activated by acute exercise in mice, the majority of which have not previously been linked to exercise. We find a broad response of 140 regulated brain regions that are shared between voluntary wheel running and treadmill running, while 32 brain regions are uniquely regulated by wheel running and 83 brain regions uniquely regulated by treadmill running. In contrast to voluntary wheel running, forced treadmill running triggers activity in brain regions associated with stress, fear, and pain. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate a significant overlap in neuronal activation signatures between voluntary wheel running and distance-matched forced treadmill running. However, our analysis also reveals notable differences and subtle nuances between these two widely used paradigms. The comprehensive dataset is accessible online at www.neuropedia.dk, with the aim of enabling future research directed towards unraveling the neurobiological response to exercise.