PDK-1/FoxO1 pathway in POMC neurons regulates Pomc expression and food intake

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Apr;298(4):E787-98. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00512.2009. Epub 2010 Jan 26.

Abstract

Both insulin and leptin signaling converge on phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase [PI(3)K]/3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK-1)/protein kinase B (PKB, also known as Akt) in proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons. Forkhead box-containing protein-O1 (FoxO1) is inactivated in a PI(3)K-dependent manner. However, the interrelationship between PI(3)K/PDK-1/Akt and FoxO1, and the chronic effects of the overexpression of FoxO1 in POMC neurons on energy homeostasis has not been elucidated. To determine the extent to which PDK-1 and FoxO1 signaling in POMC neurons was responsible for energy homeostasis, we generated POMC neuron-specific Pdk1 knockout mice (POMCPdk1(-/-)) and mice selectively expressing a constitutively nuclear (CN)FoxO1 or transactivation-defective (Delta256)FoxO1 in POMC neurons (CNFoxO1(POMC) or Delta256FoxO1(POMC)). POMCPdk1(-/-) mice showed increased food intake and body weight accompanied by decreased expression of Pomc gene. The CNFoxO1(POMC) mice exhibited mild obesity and hyperphagia compared with POMCPdk1(-/-) mice. Although expression of the CNFoxO1 made POMCPdk1(-/-) mice more obese due to excessive suppression of Pomc gene, overexpression of Delta256FoxO1 in POMC neurons had no effects on metabolic phenotypes and Pomc expression levels of POMCPdk1(-/-) mice. These data suggest a requirement for PDK-1 and FoxO1 in transcriptional regulation of Pomc and food intake.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Eating / genetics*
  • Eating / physiology*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Motor Activity / physiology
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Obesity / genetics
  • Oxygen Consumption / physiology
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Pro-Opiomelanocortin / biosynthesis*
  • Pro-Opiomelanocortin / physiology*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • RNA / biosynthesis
  • RNA / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • TRPP Cation Channels / genetics
  • TRPP Cation Channels / metabolism*
  • TRPP Cation Channels / physiology

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxo1 protein, mouse
  • TRPP Cation Channels
  • polycystic kidney disease 1 protein
  • RNA
  • Pro-Opiomelanocortin
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • 3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Pdpk1 protein, mouse
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases