Leptin-receptor-expressing neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus and median preoptic area regulate sympathetic brown adipose tissue circuits.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis is critical to maintain homoeothermia and is centrally controlled via sympathetic outputs. Body temperature and BAT activity also impact energy expenditure, and obesity is commonly associated with decreased BAT capacity and sympathetic tone. Severely obese mice that lack leptin or its receptor (LepRb) show decreased BAT capacity, sympathetic tone, and body temperature and thus are unable to adapt to acute cold exposure (Trayhurn et al., 1976). LepRb-expressing neurons are found in several hypothalamic sites, including the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) and median preoptic area (mPOA), both critical sites to regulate sympathetic, thermoregulatory BAT circuits. Specifically, a subpopulation in the DMH/dorsal hypothalamic area (DHA) is stimulated by fever-inducing endotoxins or cold exposure (Dimicco and Zaretsky, 2007; Morrison et al., 2008). Using the retrograde, transsynaptic tracer pseudorabies virus (PRV) injected into the BAT of mice, we identified PRV-labeled LepRb neurons in the DMH/DHA and mPOA (and other sites), thus indicating their involvement in the regulation of sympathetic BAT circuits. Indeed, acute cold exposure induced c-Fos (as a surrogate for neuronal activity) in DMH/DHA LepRb neurons, and a large number of mPOA LepRb neurons project to the DMH/DHA. Furthermore, DMH/DHA LepRb neurons (and a subpopulation of LepRb mPOA neurons) project and synaptically couple to rostral raphe pallidus neurons, consistent with the current understanding of BAT thermoregulatory circuits from the DMH/DHA and mPOA (Dimicco and Zaretsky, 2007; Morrison et al., 2008). Thus, these data present strong evidence that LepRb neurons in the DMH/DHA and mPOA mediate thermoregulatory leptin action.

Mice lacking inhibitory leptin receptor signals are lean with normal endocrine function.

The adipose-derived hormone, leptin, acts via its receptor (LRb) to convey the status of body energy stores to the brain, decreasing feeding and potentiating neuroendocrine energy expenditure. The failure of high levels of leptin in most obese individuals to promote weight loss defines a state of diminished responsiveness to increased leptin, termed leptin resistance. Leptin stimulates the phosphorylation of several tyrosine residues on LRb to mediate leptin action. We homologously replaced LRb in mice with a receptor with a mutation in one of these sites (Tyr985) in order to examine its role in leptin action and signal attenuation in vivo. Mice homozygous for this mutation are neuroendocrinologically normal, but females demonstrate decreased feeding, decreased expression of orexigenic neuropeptides, protection from high-fat diet-induced obesity, and increased leptin sensitivity in a sex-biased manner. Thus, leptin activates autoinhibitory signals via LRb Tyr985 to attenuate the anti-adiposity effects of leptin, especially in females, potentially contributing to leptin insensitivity in obesity.

Identification of the leptin receptor sequences crucial for the STAT3-Independent control of metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Leptin acts via its receptor, LepRb, on specialized neurons in the brain to modulate energy balance and glucose homeostasis. LepRb→STAT3 signaling plays a crucial role in leptin action, but LepRb also mediates an additional as-yet-unidentified signal (Signal 2) that is important for leptin action. Signal 2 requires LepRb regions in addition to those required for JAK2 activation but operates independently of STAT3 and LepRb phosphorylation sites. METHODS: To identify LepRb sequences that mediate Signal 2, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to generate five novel mouse lines containing COOH-terminal truncation mutants of LepRb. We analyzed the metabolic phenotype and measures of hypothalamic function for these mouse lines. RESULTS: We found that deletion of LepRb sequences between residues 921 and 960 dramatically worsens metabolic control and alters hypothalamic function relative to smaller truncations. We also found that deletion of the regions including residues 1013-1053 and 960-1013 each decreased obesity compared to deletions that included additional COOH-terminal residues. CONCLUSIONS: LepRb sequences between residues 921 and 960 mediate the STAT3 and LepRb phosphorylation-independent second signal that contributes to the control of energy balance and metabolism by leptin/LepRb. In addition to confirming the inhibitory role of the region (residues 961-1013) containing Tyr985, we also identified the region containing residues 1013-1053 (which contains no Tyr residues) as a second potential mediator of LepRb inhibition. Thus, the intracellular domain of LepRb mediates multiple Tyr-independent signals.

Transcriptional and physiological roles for STAT proteins in leptin action.

OBJECTIVES: Leptin acts via its receptor LepRb on specialized neurons in the brain to modulate food intake, energy expenditure, and body weight. LepRb activates signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs, including STAT1, STAT3, and STAT5) to control gene expression. METHODS: Because STAT3 is crucial for physiologic leptin action, we used TRAP-seq to examine gene expression in LepRb neurons of mice ablated for Stat3 in LepRb neurons (Stat3LepRbKO mice), revealing the STAT3-dependent transcriptional targets of leptin. To understand roles for STAT proteins in leptin action, we also ablated STAT1 or STAT5 from LepRb neurons and expressed a constitutively-active STAT3 (CASTAT3) in LepRb neurons. RESULTS: While we also found increased Stat1 expression and STAT1-mediated transcription of leptin-regulated genes in Stat3LepRbKO mice, ablating Stat1 in LepRb neurons failed to alter energy balance (even on the Stat3LepRbKO background); ablating Stat5 in LepRb neurons also failed to alter energy balance. Importantly, expression of a constitutively-active STAT3 (CASTAT3) in LepRb neurons decreased food intake and body weight and improved metabolic parameters in leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice, as well as in wild-type animals. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, STAT3 represents the unique STAT protein required for leptin action and STAT3 suffices to mediate important components of leptin action in the absence of other LepRb signals.

Specific subpopulations of hypothalamic leptin receptor-expressing neurons mediate the effects of early developmental leptin receptor deletion on energy balance.

OBJECTIVE: To date, early developmental ablation of leptin receptor (LepRb) expression from circumscribed populations of hypothalamic neurons (e.g., arcuate nucleus (ARC) Pomc- or Agrp-expressing cells) has only minimally affected energy balance. In contrast, removal of LepRb from at least two large populations (expressing vGat or Nos1) spanning multiple hypothalamic regions produced profound obesity and metabolic dysfunction. Thus, we tested the notion that the total number of leptin-responsive hypothalamic neurons (rather than specific subsets of cells with a particular molecular or anatomical signature) subjected to early LepRb deletion might determine energy balance. METHODS: We generated new mouse lines deleted for LepRb in ARC GhrhCre neurons or in Htr2cCre neurons (representing roughly half of all hypothalamic LepRb neurons, distributed across many nuclei). We compared the phenotypes of these mice to previously-reported models lacking LepRb in Pomc, Agrp, vGat or Nos1 cells. RESULTS: The early developmental deletion of LepRb from vGat or Nos1 neurons produced dramatic obesity, but deletion of LepRb from Pomc, Agrp, Ghrh, or Htr2c neurons minimally altered energy balance. CONCLUSIONS: Although early developmental deletion of LepRb from known populations of ARC neurons fails to substantially alter body weight, the minimal phenotype of mice lacking LepRb in Htr2c cells suggests that the phenotype that results from early developmental LepRb deficiency depends not simply upon the total number of leptin-responsive hypothalamic LepRb cells. Rather, specific populations of LepRb neurons must play particularly important roles in body energy homeostasis; these as yet unidentified LepRb cells likely reside in the DMH.

Ventral tegmental area neurotensin signaling links the lateral hypothalamus to locomotor activity and striatal dopamine efflux in male mice.

Projections from the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) innervate components of the mesolimbic dopamine (MLDA) system, including the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc), to modulate motivation appropriately for physiologic state. Neurotensin (NT)-containing LHA neurons respond to multiple homeostatic challenges and project to the VTA, suggesting that these neurons could link such signals to MLDA function. Indeed, we found that pharmacogenetic activation of LHA NT neurons promoted prolonged DA-dependent locomotor activity and NAc DA efflux, suggesting the importance of VTA neurotransmitter release by LHA NT neurons for the control of MLDA function. Using a microdialysis-mass spectrometry technique that we developed to detect endogenous NT in extracellular fluid in the mouse brain, we found that activation of LHA NT cells acutely increased the extracellular concentration of NT (a known activator of VTA DA cells) in the VTA. In contrast to the prolonged elevation of extracellular NAc DA, however, VTA NT concentrations rapidly returned to baseline. Intra-VTA infusion of NT receptor antagonist abrogated the ability of LHA NT cells to increase extracellular DA in the NAc, demonstrating that VTA NT promotes NAc DA release. Thus, transient LHA-derived NT release in the VTA couples LHA signaling to prolonged changes in DA efflux and MLDA function.

Leptin-inhibited PBN neurons enhance responses to hypoglycemia in negative energy balance.

Hypoglycemia initiates the counter-regulatory response (CRR), in which the sympathetic nervous system, glucagon and glucocorticoids restore glucose to appropriate concentrations. During starvation, low leptin levels restrain energy utilization, enhancing long-term survival. To ensure short-term survival during hypoglycemia in fasted animals, the CRR must overcome this energy-sparing program and nutrient depletion. Here we identify in mice a previously unrecognized role for leptin and a population of leptin-regulated neurons that modulate the CRR to meet these challenges. Hypoglycemia activates neurons of the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) that coexpress leptin receptor (LepRb) and cholecystokinin (CCK) (PBN LepRb(CCK) neurons), which project to the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. Leptin inhibits these cells, and Cck(cre)-mediated ablation of LepRb enhances the CRR. Inhibition of PBN LepRb cells blunts the CRR, whereas their activation mimics the CRR in a CCK-dependent manner. PBN LepRb(CCK) neurons are a crucial component of the CRR system and may be a therapeutic target in hypoglycemia.

IRS2 signaling in LepR-b neurons suppresses FoxO1 to control energy balance independently of leptin action.

Irs2-mediated insulin/IGF1 signaling in the CNS modulates energy balance and glucose homeostasis; however, the site for Irs2 function is unknown. The hormone leptin mediates energy balance by acting on leptin receptor (LepR-b)-expressing neurons. To determine whether LepR-b neurons mediate the metabolic actions of Irs2 in the brain, we utilized Lepr(cre) together with Irs2(L/L) to ablate Irs2 expression in LepR-b neurons (Lepr(ΔIrs2)). Lepr(ΔIrs2) mice developed obesity, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance. Leptin action was not altered in young Lepr(ΔIrs2) mice, although insulin-stimulated FoxO1 nuclear exclusion was reduced in Lepr(ΔIrs2) mice. Indeed, deletion of Foxo1 from LepR-b neurons in Lepr(ΔIrs2) mice normalized energy balance, glucose homeostasis, and arcuate nucleus gene expression. Thus, Irs2 signaling in LepR-b neurons plays a crucial role in metabolic sensing and regulation. While not required for leptin action, Irs2 suppresses FoxO1 signaling in LepR-b neurons to promote energy balance and metabolism.

Molecular mapping of mouse brain regions innervated by leptin receptor-expressing cells.

Leptin acts via the long form of the leptin receptor (LepRb) on specialized sets of neurons in the brain to modulate diverse functions in concert with energy stores. Previous studies have revealed the distribution of LepRb-expressing neurons in the brain but not the regions to which LepRb neurons project to mediate downstream leptin actions. We utilized LepRb-cre in combination with cre-inducible enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and farnesylated EGFP (EGFPf) mouse reporter strains to visualize LepRb neurons and their projections, respectively, throughout the brain. The areas containing LepRb soma and projections were relatively circumscribed, as many brain regions contained no detectable EGFP or EGFPf. The highest concentrations of LepRb neurons and LepRb projections were found in the hypothalamus, where the ventral premamillary (PMv), dorsomedial (DMH), and arcuate (ARC) nuclei contained the greatest number of cell bodies, in addition to substantial EGFPf-reactivity. Furthermore, both LepRb soma and projections were present in a few midbrain and brainstem nuclei. Several brain regions including the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVH), the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPe), and the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) contained few LepRb neurons but substantial EGFPf, suggesting that these regions represent targets of LepRb neurons that lie elsewhere in the brain. In some nuclei that contained both soma and projections, the distribution of soma and projections differed, suggesting that these areas transmit leptin-encoded information in a neuroanatomically directional manner.

Insufficiency of Janus kinase 2-autonomous leptin receptor signals for most physiologic leptin actions.

OBJECTIVE: Leptin acts via its receptor (LepRb) to signal the status of body energy stores. Leptin binding to LepRb initiates signaling by activating the associated Janus kinase 2 (Jak2) tyrosine kinase, which promotes the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues on the intracellular tail of LepRb. Two previously examined LepRb phosphorylation sites mediate several, but not all, aspects of leptin action, leading us to hypothesize that Jak2 signaling might contribute to leptin action independently of LepRb phosphorylation sites. We therefore determined the potential role in leptin action for signals that are activated by Jak2 independently of LepRb phosphorylation (Jak2-autonomous signals). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We inserted sequences encoding a truncated LepRb mutant (LepRb(Delta65c), which activates Jak2 normally, but is devoid of other LepRb intracellular sequences) into the mouse Lepr locus. We examined the leptin-regulated physiology of the resulting Delta/Delta mice relative to LepRb-deficient db/db animals. RESULTS: The Delta/Delta animals were similar to db/db animals in terms of energy homeostasis, neuroendocrine and immune function, and regulation of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, but demonstrated modest improvements in glucose homeostasis. CONCLUSIONS: The ability of Jak2-autonomous LepRb signals to modulate glucose homeostasis in Delta/Delta animals suggests a role for these signals in leptin action. Because Jak2-autonomous LepRb signals fail to mediate most leptin action, however, signals from other LepRb intracellular sequences predominate.

Complex regulation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 in the basomedial hypothalamus by leptin and nutritional status.

The medial basal hypothalamus, including the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH), integrates signals of energy status to modulate metabolism and energy balance. Leptin and feeding regulate the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in the hypothalamus, and hypothalamic mTORC1 contributes to the control of feeding and energy balance. To determine the mechanisms by which leptin modulates mTORC1 in specific hypothalamic neurons, we immunohistochemically assessed the mTORC1-dependent phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 (pS6). In addition to confirming the modulation of ARC mTORC1 activity by acute leptin treatment, this analysis revealed the robust activation of mTORC1-dependent ARC pS6 in response to fasting and leptin deficiency in leptin receptor-expressing Agouti-related protein neurons. In contrast, fasting and leptin deficiency suppress VMH mTORC1 signaling. The appropriate regulation of ARC mTORC1 by mutant leptin receptor isoforms correlated with their ability to suppress the activity of Agouti-related protein neurons, suggesting the potential stimulation of mTORC1 by the neuronal activity. Indeed, fasting- and leptin deficiency-induced pS6-immunoreactivity (IR) extensively colocalized with c-Fos-IR in ARC and VMH neurons. Furthermore, ghrelin, which activates orexigenic ARC neurons, increased ARC mTORC1 activity and induced colocalized pS6- and c-Fos-IR. Thus, neuronal activity promotes mTORC1/pS6 in response to signals of energy deficit. In contrast, insulin, which activates mTORC1 via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway, increased ARC and VMH pS6-IR in the absence of neuronal activation. The regulation of mTORC1 in the basomedial hypothalamus thus varies by cell and stimulus type, as opposed to responding in a uniform manner to nutritional and hormonal perturbations.

Leptin acts via leptin receptor-expressing lateral hypothalamic neurons to modulate the mesolimbic dopamine system and suppress feeding.

The lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) acts in concert with the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and other components of the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system to control motivation, including the incentive to feed. The anorexigenic hormone leptin modulates the mesolimbic DA system, although the mechanisms underlying this control have remained incompletely understood. We show that leptin directly regulates a population of leptin receptor (LepRb)-expressing inhibitory neurons in the LHA and that leptin action via these LHA LepRb neurons decreases feeding and body weight. Furthermore, these LHA LepRb neurons innervate the VTA, and leptin action on these neurons restores VTA expression of the rate-limiting enzyme in DA production along with mesolimbic DA content in leptin-deficient animals. Thus, these findings reveal that LHA LepRb neurons link anorexic leptin action to the mesolimbic DA system.

A simple qPCR-based method to detect correct insertion of homologous targeting vectors in murine ES cells.

The identification of correctly targeted embryonic stem (ES) cell clones from among the large number of random integrants that result from most selection paradigms remains an important hurdle in the generation of animals bearing homologously targeted transgenes. Given the limitations inherent to Southern blotting and standard PCR, we utilized quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to rapidly identify murine ES cell clones containing insertions at the correct genomic locus. Importantly, this approach is useful for screening ES clones from conditional/insertional "knock-in" strategies in which there is no loss of genetic material. Simple validation avoids the generation of assays prone to false negative results. In this method, probe and primer sets that span an insertion site detect and quantify the unperturbed gene relative to an irrelevant reference gene, allowing ES cell clones to be screened for loss of detection of one copy of the gene (functional loss of homozygousity (LOH)) that occurs when the normal DNA is disrupted by the insertion event. Simply stated, detected gene copy number falls from two to one in correctly targeted clones. We have utilized such easily designed and validated qPCR LOH assays to rapidly and accurately identify insertions in multiple target sites (including the Lepr and mTOR loci) in murine ES cells, in order to generate transgenic animals.