Asprosin Promotes Feeding Through SK Channel-Dependent Activation of AgRP Neurons

Authors

Bing Feng
Hesong Liu
Ila Mishra
Clemens Duerrschmid
Peiyu Gao
Pingwen Xu
Chunmei Wang
Yanlin He

Publication Date

2-22-2023

Journal

Science Advances

DOI

10.1126/sciadv.abq6718

PMID

36812308

PMCID

PMC9946352

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

2-22-2023

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

Humans, Agouti-Related Protein, Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus, Hypothalamus, Neurons, Obesity, Adipokines, Fibrillin-1

Abstract

Asprosin, a recently identified adipokine, activates agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH) via binding to protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor δ (Ptprd) to increase food intake. However, the intracellular mechanisms responsible for asprosin/Ptprd-mediated activation of AgRPARH neurons remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the small-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channel is required for the stimulatory effects of asprosin/Ptprd on AgRPARH neurons. Specifically, we found that deficiency or elevation of circulating asprosin increased or decreased the SK current in AgRPARH neurons, respectively. AgRPARH-specific deletion of SK3 (an SK channel subtype highly expressed in AgRPARH neurons) blocked asprosin-induced AgRPARH activation and overeating. Furthermore, pharmacological blockade, genetic knockdown, or knockout of Ptprd abolished asprosin’s effects on the SK current and AgRPARH neuronal activity. Therefore, our results demonstrated an essential asprosin-Ptprd-SK3 mechanism in asprosin-induced AgRPARH activation and hyperphagia, which is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity.