G_q/11α and G_sα mediate distinct physiological responses to central melanocortins

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Abstract

Activation of brain melanocortin 4 receptors (MC4Rs) leads to reduced food intake, increased energy expenditure, increased insulin sensitivity, and reduced linear growth. MC4R effects on energy expenditure and glucose metabolism are primarily mediated by the G protein G_sα in brain regions outside of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). However, the G protein(s) that is involved in MC4R-mediated suppression of food intake and linear growth, which are believed to be regulated primarily though action in the PVN, is unknown. Here, we show that PVN-specific loss of G_qα and G₁₁α, which stimulate PLC, leads to severe hyperphagic obesity, increased linear growth, and inactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, without affecting energy expenditure or glucose metabolism. Moreover, we demonstrate that the ability of an MC4R agonist delivered to PVN to inhibit food intake is lost in mice lacking G_q/11α in the PVN but not in animals deficient for G_sα. The blood pressure response to the same MC4R agonist was only lost in animals lacking G_sα specifically in the PVN. Together, our results exemplify how different physiological effects of GPCRs may be mediated by different G proteins and identify a pathway for appetite regulation that could be selectively targeted by G_q/11α-biased MC4R agonists as a potential treatment for obesity.

Authors

Yong-Qi Li, Yogendra Shrestha, Mritunjay Pandey, Min Chen, Ahmed Kablan, Oksana Gavrilova, Stefan Offermanns, Lee S. Weinstein