Logo image
Peripheral Insulin Regulates a Broad Network of Gene Expression in Hypothalamus, Hippocampus, and Nucleus Accumbens
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Peripheral Insulin Regulates a Broad Network of Gene Expression in Hypothalamus, Hippocampus, and Nucleus Accumbens

Weikang Cai, Xuemei Zhang, Thiago M Batista, Rubén García-Martín, Samir Softic, Guoxiao Wang, Alfred K Ramirez, Masahiro Konishi, Brian T O'Neill, Jong Hun Kim, …
Diabetes (New York, N.Y.), Vol.70(8), pp.1857-1873
08/2021
DOI: 10.2337/db20-1119
PMCID: PMC8385615
PMID: 34031123
url
https://doi.org/10.2337/db20-1119View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The brain is now recognized as an insulin-sensitive tissue; however, the role of changing insulin concentrations in the peripheral circulation in gene expression in the brain is largely unknown. Here, we performed a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp on 3-month-old male C57BL/6 mice for 3 h. We show that, in comparison with results in saline-infused controls, increases in peripheral insulin within the physiological range regulate expression of a broad network of genes in the brain. Insulin regulates distinct pathways in the hypothalamus (HTM), hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens. Insulin shows its most robust effect in the HTM and regulates multiple genes involved in neurotransmission, including upregulating expression of multiple subunits of GABA-A receptors, Na and K channels, and SNARE proteins; differentially modulating glutamate receptors; and suppressing multiple neuropeptides. Insulin also strongly modulates metabolic genes in the HTM, suppressing genes in the glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathways, while increasing expression of genes regulating pyruvate dehydrogenase and long-chain fatty acyl-CoA and cholesterol biosynthesis, thereby rerouting of carbon substrates from glucose metabolism to lipid metabolism required for the biogenesis of membranes for neuronal and glial function and synaptic remodeling. Furthermore, based on the transcriptional signatures, these changes in gene expression involve neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, and endothelial cells. Thus, peripheral insulin acutely and potently regulates expression of a broad network of genes involved in neurotransmission and brain metabolism. Dysregulation of these pathways could have dramatic effects in normal physiology and diabetes.
Animals Astrocytes - drug effects Astrocytes - metabolism Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects Glucose Clamp Technique Hippocampus - drug effects Hippocampus - metabolism Hypothalamus - drug effects Hypothalamus - metabolism Insulin - pharmacology Lipogenesis - drug effects Lipogenesis - physiology Male Mice Neurons - drug effects Neurons - metabolism Nucleus Accumbens - drug effects Nucleus Accumbens - metabolism

Details

Logo image