Solar exposed skin induces sex-dependent food-seeking behavior

ABSTRACT: Considering the distinct physiologies of men and women, it stands to reason that they would react differently to solar exposure, but such a study was never conducted before. Here we show that solar exposure induces food-seeking behavior, food intake and weight gain in males, but not in females, by epidemiological analysis, blood-serum proteomics, UVB-exposed mouse behavioral models and human cohort questionnaires . The underlying mechanism entails increased ghrelin secretion from skin adipocytes into the circulation. UVB irradiation led to p53 transcriptional activation of ghrelin in skin adipocytes, with mouse conditional p53-knockout abolishing UVB-induced ghrelin expression and food-seeking behavior. In females, estrogen interferes with the p53–chromatin interaction on the ghrelin promotor, thus blocking ghrelin and, consequently, food-seeking behavior in response to UVB exposure. These results identify the skin as a major mediator of human physiology in furless animals and may lead to therapeutic opportunities for sex-based treatment of endocrine-related diseases.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)

TISSUE(S): Blood Serum

SUBMITTER: Tamar Ziv  

LAB HEAD: Carmit Levy

PROVIDER: PXD033203 | Pride | 2022-06-23

REPOSITORIES: Pride