Project description:The choroid plexus is an important source of trophic factors for the developing and mature brain. Recently we described the expression and production of mature insulin in epithelial cells of the choroid plexus, and how its secretion can be modulated by serotonin through Htr2c, a metabotropic receptor that signals via Gq. To understand the function of this choroid plexus-derived insulin, here we describe a way to genetically target epithelial cells of the choroid plexus using a viral vector. With this, we modulated insulin expression and evaluated behavior. Insulin overexpression in the choroid plexus of wild type mice led to an inhibition in feeding, whereas insulin knockdown in choroid plexus of Ins1-/-Ins2fl/fl mice promoted discrete increases in food intake, especially after a period of fasting. Insulin overexpression in choroid plexus induced roust transcriptomic changes in the hypothalamus, most of which related to axonal growth and synapse-related processes. Finally, activation of Gq signaling in insulin-overexpressing choroid plexuses led to acute AKT phosphorylation in neurons of the arcuate nucleus, suggesting a direct action, through the CSF, of choroid plexus-derived insulin on the hypothalamus. Taken together our findings prove that the choroid plexus is a relevant source of insulin in the central nervous system, with physiological implications in feeding behavior. We believe that choroid plexus-derived insulin has to be taken into consideration in future work pertaining insulin actions in the brain.
Project description:In animals, the brain regulates feeding behavior in response to local energy demands of peripheral tissues, which secrete orexigenic and anorexigenic hormones. Although skeletal muscle is a key peripheral tissue, it remains unknown whether muscle-secreted hormones regulate feeding. In Drosophila , we find that decapentaplegic (dpp), the homolog of human bone morphogenetic proteins BMP2 and BMP4, is a muscle-secreted factor (a myokine) that is induced by nutrient sensing and that circulates and signals to the brain. Muscle-restricted dpp RNAi promotes foraging and feeding initiation whereas dpp overexpression reduces it. This regulation of feeding by muscle-derived Dpp stems from modulation of brain tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression and dopamine biosynthesis. Consistently, Dpp receptor signaling in dopaminergic neurons regulates TH expression and feeding initiation via the downstream transcriptional repressor Schnurri. Moreover, pharmacologic modulation of TH activity rescues the changes in feeding initiation due to modulation of dpp expression in muscle. These findings indicate that muscle-to-brain endocrine signaling mediated by the myokine Dpp regulates feeding behavior.
Project description:Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes exhibit an endophilic, nocturnal blood feeding behavior. Despite the importance of light as a regulator of malaria transmission, our knowledge on the molecular interactions between environmental cues, the circadian oscillators and the host seeking and feeding systems of the Anopheles mosquitoes is limited. In the present study, we show that the blood feeding behavior of mosquitoes is under circadian control and can be modulated by light pulses, both in a clock dependent and in an independent manner. Short light pulses (~2-5 min) in the dark phase can inhibit the blood-feeding propensity of mosquitoes momentarily in a clock independent manner, while longer durations of light stimulation (~1-2 h) can induce a phase advance in blood-feeding propensity in a clock dependent manner. The temporary feeding inhibition after short light pulses may reflect a masking effect of light, an unknown mechanism which is known to superimpose on the true circadian regulation. Nonetheless, the shorter light pulses resulted in the differential regulation of a variety of genes including those implicated in the circadian control, suggesting that light induced masking effects also involve clock components. Light pulses (both short and longer) also regulated genes implicated in feeding as well as different physiological processes like metabolism, transport, immunity and protease digestions. RNAi-mediated gene silencing assays of the light pulse regulated circadian factors timeless, cryptochrome and three takeout homologues significantly up-regulated the mosquito's blood-feeding propensity. In contrast, gene silencing of light pulse regulated olfactory factors down-regulated the mosquito's propensity to Our study suggests that the mosquitoâs feeding behavior is under circadian control. Long and short light pulses can induce inhibition of blood-feeding through circadian and unknown mechanisms, respectively, that involve chemosensory factors. A series of assays were performed to assess transcriptomic changes in mosquitoes upon light stimulation and blood feeding in order to assess relationships between photic stimulation and modulation of feeding behavior.
Project description:Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes exhibit an endophilic, nocturnal blood feeding behavior. Despite the importance of light as a regulator of malaria transmission, our knowledge on the molecular interactions between environmental cues, the circadian oscillators and the host seeking and feeding systems of the Anopheles mosquitoes is limited. In the present study, we show that the blood feeding behavior of mosquitoes is under circadian control and can be modulated by light pulses, both in a clock dependent and in an independent manner. Short light pulses (~2-5 min) in the dark phase can inhibit the blood-feeding propensity of mosquitoes momentarily in a clock independent manner, while longer durations of light stimulation (~1-2 h) can induce a phase advance in blood-feeding propensity in a clock dependent manner. The temporary feeding inhibition after short light pulses may reflect a masking effect of light, an unknown mechanism which is known to superimpose on the true circadian regulation. Nonetheless, the shorter light pulses resulted in the differential regulation of a variety of genes including those implicated in the circadian control, suggesting that light induced masking effects also involve clock components. Light pulses (both short and longer) also regulated genes implicated in feeding as well as different physiological processes like metabolism, transport, immunity and protease digestions. RNAi-mediated gene silencing assays of the light pulse regulated circadian factors timeless, cryptochrome and three takeout homologues significantly up-regulated the mosquito's blood-feeding propensity. In contrast, gene silencing of light pulse regulated olfactory factors down-regulated the mosquito's propensity to Our study suggests that the mosquito’s feeding behavior is under circadian control. Long and short light pulses can induce inhibition of blood-feeding through circadian and unknown mechanisms, respectively, that involve chemosensory factors.
Project description:Circadian rhythm disruption (CD) is associated with dysregulation of glucose homeostasis and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). While the link between CD and T2DM remains unclear, there is accumulating evidence that disruption of fasting/feeding cycles mediates CD-induced metabolic dysfunction. Herein we utilized an approach encompassing analysis of behavioral, physiological, transcriptomic, and single-cell epigenomic effects of CD and consequences of restoration of fasting/feeding cycles through time-restricted feeding (tRF) in mice. Results show that CD perturbs glucose homeostasis through disruption of pancreatic β-cell function and loss of circadian β-cell transcriptional and epigenetic control. In contrast, restoration of fasting/feeding cycle prevented CD-mediated metabolic dysfunction by reestablishing circadian regulation of glucose tolerance, β-cell function, β-cell transcriptional profile, and reestablishment of proline and acidic amino acid-rich basic leucine zipper (PAR-bZIP) transcription factor activity in β-cells. This study provides mechanistic insights into beneficial effects of tRF and its role in prevention of β-cell failure in T2DM.
Project description:Circadian rhythm disruption (CD) is associated with dysregulation of glucose homeostasis and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). While the link between CD and T2DM remains unclear, there is accumulating evidence that disruption of fasting/feeding cycles mediates CD-induced metabolic dysfunction. Herein we utilized an approach encompassing analysis of behavioral, physiological, transcriptomic, and single-cell epigenomic effects of CD and consequences of restoration of fasting/feeding cycles through time-restricted feeding (tRF) in mice. Results show that CD perturbs glucose homeostasis through disruption of pancreatic β-cell function and loss of circadian β-cell transcriptional and epigenetic control. In contrast, restoration of fasting/feeding cycle prevented CD-mediated metabolic dysfunction by reestablishing circadian regulation of glucose tolerance, β-cell function, β-cell transcriptional profile, and reestablishment of proline and acidic amino acid-rich basic leucine zipper (PAR-bZIP) transcription factor activity in β-cells. This study provides mechanistic insights into beneficial effects of tRF and its role in prevention of β-cell failure in T2DM.
Project description:Circadian rhythm disruption (CD) is associated with dysregulation of glucose homeostasis and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). While the link between CD and T2DM remains unclear, there is accumulating evidence that disruption of fasting/feeding cycles mediates CD-induced metabolic dysfunction. Herein we utilized an approach encompassing analysis of behavioral, physiological, transcriptomic, and single-cell epigenomic effects of CD and consequences of restoration of fasting/feeding cycles through time-restricted feeding (tRF) in mice. Results show that CD perturbs glucose homeostasis through disruption of pancreatic β-cell function and loss of circadian β-cell transcriptional and epigenetic control. In contrast, restoration of fasting/feeding cycle prevented CD-mediated metabolic dysfunction by reestablishing circadian regulation of glucose tolerance, β-cell function, β-cell transcriptional profile, and reestablishment of proline and acidic amino acid-rich basic leucine zipper (PAR-bZIP) transcription factor activity in β-cells. This study provides mechanistic insights into beneficial effects of tRF and its role in prevention of β-cell failure in T2DM.
Project description:Circadian rhythm disruption (CD) is associated with dysregulation of glucose homeostasis and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). While the link between CD and T2DM remains unclear, there is accumulating evidence that disruption of fasting/feeding cycles mediates CD-induced metabolic dysfunction. Herein we utilized an approach encompassing analysis of behavioral, physiological, transcriptomic, and single-cell epigenomic effects of CD and consequences of restoration of fasting/feeding cycles through time-restricted feeding (tRF) in mice. Results show that CD perturbs glucose homeostasis through disruption of pancreatic β-cell function and loss of circadian β-cell transcriptional and epigenetic control. In contrast, restoration of fasting/feeding cycle prevented CD-mediated metabolic dysfunction by reestablishing circadian regulation of glucose tolerance, β-cell function, β-cell transcriptional profile, and reestablishment of proline and acidic amino acid-rich basic leucine zipper (PAR-bZIP) transcription factor activity in β-cells. This study provides mechanistic insights into beneficial effects of tRF and its role in prevention of β-cell failure in T2DM.