Glut2-dependent glucose-sensing controls thermoregulation by enhancing the leptin sensitivity of NPY and POMC neurons

FASEB J. 2010 Jun;24(6):1747-58. doi: 10.1096/fj.09-144923. Epub 2010 Jan 22.

Abstract

The physiological contribution of glucose in thermoregulation is not completely established nor whether this control may involve a regulation of the melanocortin pathway. Here, we assessed thermoregulation and leptin sensitivity of hypothalamic arcuate neurons in mice with inactivation of glucose transporter type 2 (Glut2)-dependent glucose sensing. Mice with inactivation of Glut2-dependent glucose sensors are cold intolerant and show increased susceptibility to food deprivation-induced torpor and abnormal hypothermic response to intracerebroventricular administration of 2-deoxy-d-glucose compared to control mice. This is associated with a defect in regulated expression of brown adipose tissue uncoupling protein I and iodothyronine deiodinase II and with a decreased leptin sensitivity of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, as observed during the unfed-to-refed transition or following i.p. leptin injection. Sites of central Glut-2 expression were identified by a genetic tagging approach and revealed that glucose-sensitive neurons were present in the lateral hypothalamus, the dorsal vagal complex, and the basal medulla but not in the arcuate nucleus. NPY and POMC neurons were, however, connected to nerve terminals from Glut2-expressing neurons. Thus, our data suggest that glucose controls thermoregulation and the leptin sensitivity of NPY and POMC neurons through activation of Glut2-dependent glucose-sensing neurons located outside of the arcuate nucleus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Body Temperature Regulation*
  • Female
  • Glucose / analysis
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Glucose Transporter Type 2 / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Integrases
  • Iodide Peroxidase / genetics
  • Iodide Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Iodothyronine Deiodinase Type II
  • Ion Channels / genetics
  • Ion Channels / metabolism
  • Leptin / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neuropeptide Y / genetics
  • Neuropeptide Y / metabolism*
  • Pro-Opiomelanocortin / genetics
  • Pro-Opiomelanocortin / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Uncoupling Protein 1

Substances

  • Glucose Transporter Type 2
  • Ion Channels
  • Leptin
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Neuropeptide Y
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Slc2a2 protein, mouse
  • Uncoupling Protein 1
  • Pro-Opiomelanocortin
  • Iodide Peroxidase
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases
  • Glucose