2021
Astrocytic lipid metabolism determines susceptibility to diet-induced obesity
Varela L, Kim JG, Fernández-Tussy P, Aryal B, Liu ZW, Fernández-Hernando C, Horvath TL. Astrocytic lipid metabolism determines susceptibility to diet-induced obesity. Science Advances 2021, 7: eabj2814. PMID: 34890239, PMCID: PMC11323787, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj2814.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDiet-induced obesityHypothalamic astrocytesPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gammaHypothalamic neuronal circuitsProliferator-activated receptor gammaControl of feedingFatty acid homeostasisSystemic glucoseMetabolic milieuGlucose homeostasisBody weightReceptor gammaSynaptic plasticityNeuronal circuitsNutrient sensingLipid metabolismCellular adaptationObesityAstrocytesAcid homeostasisUnidentified roleFA metabolismEnergy metabolismElevated susceptibilityAvailability of FAHunger-promoting AgRP neurons trigger an astrocyte-mediated feed-forward auto-activation loop in mice
Varela L, Stutz B, Song JE, Kim JG, Liu ZW, Gao XB, Horvath TL. Hunger-promoting AgRP neurons trigger an astrocyte-mediated feed-forward auto-activation loop in mice. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2021, 131 PMID: 33848272, PMCID: PMC8121506, DOI: 10.1172/jci144239.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAgRP neuronsHypothalamic feeding circuitsInhibitory neurotransmitter GABAGhrelin administrationInhibitory toneAstrocytic responseMetabolic milieuProstaglandin E2Neurotransmitter GABANeuronal controlSynaptic plasticityGlial processesNeuronsNeural excitationMitochondrial adaptationsFood deprivationAstrocytesPerikaryaFeeding circuitRegion crucialFeedingObesityGABAExcitabilityChemogenetics
2019
Mitofusin 2 plays a role in oocyte and follicle development, and is required to maintain ovarian follicular reserve during reproductive aging
Zhang M, Bener MB, Jiang Z, Wang T, Esencan E, Scott R, Horvath T, Seli E. Mitofusin 2 plays a role in oocyte and follicle development, and is required to maintain ovarian follicular reserve during reproductive aging. Aging 2019, 11: 3919-3938. PMID: 31204316, PMCID: PMC6628992, DOI: 10.18632/aging.102024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMitofusin 2Key regulatory proteinsImpaired oocyte maturationFollicle developmentMitochondrial fusionRegulatory proteinsEndoplasmic reticulumMitochondrial dysfunctionTargeted deletionOocyte maturationOocytesReproductive agingFemale subfertilityOocyte qualityOvarian follicular reserveTelomeresMitochondriaMetabolic milieuProteinReticulumDeletionFusionPhenotypeApoptosisMaturation