Disruption of CRTC1 and CRTC2 in Sim1 cells strongly increases high-fat diet intake in female mice but has a modest impact on male mice

PLoS One. 2022 Jan 12;17(1):e0262577. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262577. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB)-regulated transcription coactivators (CRTCs) regulate gene transcription in response to an increase in intracellular cAMP or Ca2+ levels. To date, three isoforms of CRTC have been identified in mammals. All CRTCs are widely expressed in various regions of the brain. Numerous studies have shown the importance of CREB and CRTC in energy homeostasis. In the brain, the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) plays a critical role in energy metabolism, and CRTC1 and CRTC2 are highly expressed in PVH neuronal cells. The single-minded homolog 1 gene (Sim1) is densely expressed in PVH neurons and in some areas of the amygdala neurons. To determine the role of CRTCs in PVH on energy metabolism, we generated mice that lacked CRTC1 and CRTC2 in Sim1 cells using Sim-1 cre mice. We found that Sim1 cell-specific CRTC1 and CRTC2 double-knockout mice were sensitive to high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Sim1 cell-specific CRTC1 and CRTC2 double knockout mice showed hyperphagia specifically for the HFD, but not for the normal chow diet, increased fat mass, and no change in energy expenditure. Interestingly, these phenotypes were stronger in female mice than in male mice, and a weak phenotype was observed in the normal chow diet. The lack of CRTC1 and CRTC2 in Sim1 cells changed the mRNA levels of some neuropeptides that regulate energy metabolism in female mice fed an HFD. Taken together, our findings suggest that CRTCs in Sim1 cells regulate gene expression and suppress excessive fat intake, especially in female mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Diet, High-Fat*
  • Energy Metabolism*
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Hyperphagia / metabolism
  • Hyperphagia / pathology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Obesity / metabolism
  • Obesity / pathology*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Crtc1 protein, mouse
  • Crtc2 protein, mouse
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Sim1 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors

Grants and funding

This work was supported in part by Takeda Life Science foundation and JSPS Kakenhi. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.