Consequences of Astrocytic Leptin Receptor Upregulation on Obesity

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed study aims to determine how astrocytic leptin receptors (ObR, or LR) affect obesity regulation. Obesity, like neural injury, results in regional astrogliosis. We observed that knockout of ObR in astrocytes leads to partial resistance of the mice to diet-induced obesity, a finding opposite to the obesity found in mice with knockout of ObR in neurons. Moreover, mice with adult-onset obesity show both astrogliosis and robust upregulation of astrocytic ObR in selective nuclei of the hypothalamus. These ObR are functional, as leptin treatment activates multiple signaling pathways in primary astrocytes. We, therefore, hypothesize that the ObR (+) astrocytes provide negative regulation to facilitate obesity in two main ways: (a) reducing availability of leptin to neurons by accelerating leptin turnover; (b) modulating neuronal function by alterations of the profile of glial transmitters released. Such a role for astrocytes provides a direct mechanism linking neuroinflammatory processes and body weight control. We will test the hypotheses in three specific aims. (1) To show that reactive astrocytes facilitate the turnover of leptin and attenuate neuronal leptin signaling in the brain, Aim 1 will use an established model of reactive astrogliosis - adult-onset obesity - to determine the distribution of fluorescently conjugated leptin and pSTAT3 signaling after intracerebroventricular delivery of leptin. The results will be compared with those from astrocyte specific leptin receptor knockout mice, and after pretreatment with the astrocyte inhibitor fluorocitrate. (2) In Aim 2, we will test the hypothesis that leptin modulates the production profile of gliotransmitters, including glutamate and ATP in the acute phase and cytokines at a later time. Primary astrocytes and neurons will be used for calcium imaging, and the effects of astrocyte conditioned medium and mixed neuron-glial culture will be tested. (3) Aim 3 will identify functional consequences of astrocyte specific leptin receptor knockout on the metabolic phenotype and correlate this with serum biomarkers of neuroinflammation. Overall, the results will demonstrate an essential role of ObR(+) astrocytes in the regulation of neuronal leptin signaling. As astrocytes are crucially involved in neural injury and an integral part of the neuroimmune axis, these studies will provide tangible mechanisms by which neuroinflammation can regulate body weight.