A neural basis for brain leptin action on reducing type 1 diabetic hyperglycemia

• Published in: Nature communications 2021-05, Vol.12 (1), p.2662-2662, Article 2662
• Main Authors: Fan, Shengjie, Xu, Yuanzhong, Lu, Yungang, Jiang, Zhiying, Li, Hongli, Morrill, Jessie C., Cai, Jing, Wu, Qi, Xu, Yong, Xue, Mingshan, Arenkiel, Benjamin R., Huang, Cheng, Tong, Qingchun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/378/1689; 64/110; 64/60; 692/699/317; 82/80; 9/74; Agouti-Related Protein - metabolism; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; Animal models; Animals; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Brain - cytology; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; Deprivation; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes mellitus (insulin dependent); Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - metabolism; Energy requirements; GABAergic Neurons - drug effects; GABAergic Neurons - metabolism; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hyperglycemia; Hyperglycemia - metabolism; Infusions, Intraventricular; Leptin - administration & dosage; Leptin - metabolism; Male; Mice, Transgenic; Mimicry; multidisciplinary; Neurons; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - metabolism; Nutrients; Receptors, Leptin - genetics; Receptors, Leptin - metabolism; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Signal Transduction - drug effects; γ-Aminobutyric acid; γ-Aminobutyric acid A receptors
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22940-4

Central leptin action rescues type 1 diabetic (T1D) hyperglycemia; however, the underlying mechanism and the identity of mediating neurons remain elusive. Here, we show that leptin receptor (LepR)-expressing neurons in arcuate (LepR Arc ) are selectively activated in T1D. Activation of LepR Arc neurons, Arc GABAergic (GABA Arc ) neurons, or arcuate AgRP neurons, is able to reverse the leptin’s rescuing effect. Conversely, inhibition of GABA Arc neurons, but not AgRP neurons, produces leptin-mimicking rescuing effects. Further, AgRP neuron function is not required for T1D hyperglycemia or leptin’s rescuing effects. Finally, T1D LepR Arc neurons show defective nutrient sensing and signs of cellular energy deprivation, which are both restored by leptin, whereas nutrient deprivation reverses the leptin action. Our results identify aberrant activation of LepR Arc neurons owing to energy deprivation as the neural basis for T1D hyperglycemia and that leptin action is mediated by inhibiting LepR Arc neurons through reversing energy deprivation. Leptin can rescue hyperglycemia in type 1 diabetes, but the underlying mechanisms for this effect are not clear. Here, the authors report that leptin action is mediated by inhibition of the heightened activity of arcuate GABA neurons in murine models of type 1 diabetes through restoring nutrient sensing.