Exendin-4(1-32)K-Capric Acid, a Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist, Suppresses Food Intake via Arcuate Pro-Opiomelanocortin Neurons

Background Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin known for its anti-obesity effects, and several effective drugs targeting GLP-1 receptors (GLP-1Rs) have recently been developed to treat obesity. Although GLP-1Rs are expressed by various populations of central neurons, it is still unclear w...

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Main Authors: Sujin Yoo, Eun-Seon Yoo, Jae Il Kim, Jong-Woo Sohn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Endocrine Society 2025-06-01
Series:Endocrinology and Metabolism
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Online Access:http://www.e-enm.org/upload/pdf/enm-2024-2185.pdf
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author Sujin Yoo
Eun-Seon Yoo
Jae Il Kim
Jong-Woo Sohn
author_facet Sujin Yoo
Eun-Seon Yoo
Jae Il Kim
Jong-Woo Sohn
author_sort Sujin Yoo
collection DOAJ
description Background Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin known for its anti-obesity effects, and several effective drugs targeting GLP-1 receptors (GLP-1Rs) have recently been developed to treat obesity. Although GLP-1Rs are expressed by various populations of central neurons, it is still unclear which specific populations mediate the anti-obesity effects of GLP-1R agonists. Methods In this study, we utilized the previously reported GLP-1R agonist, exendin-4(1-32)K-capric acid (Ex-4c), and conducted whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, immunohistochemistry experiments, and in vivo food intake measurements. Results Our findings indicate that the appetite-suppressing effects of Ex-4c depend on pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons. Fos immunochemistry experiments and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings showed that Ex-4c activated POMC neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Additionally, we observed that Ex-4c stimulated GLP-1Rs and activated the protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent signaling pathway, which in turn closed putative adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels, leading to the depolarization of POMC neurons. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that the appetite-suppressing effects of Ex-4c are mediated through the activation of arcuate POMC neurons. Furthermore, the PKA-dependent closure of putative KATP conductance is identified as the cellular mechanism responsible for the activation of POMC neurons.
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spelling doaj-art-c38972ed43d14ea4857a0ce8f1d1c4b32025-08-20T02:37:36ZengKorean Endocrine SocietyEndocrinology and Metabolism2093-596X2093-59782025-06-0140343444710.3803/EnM.2024.21852602Exendin-4(1-32)K-Capric Acid, a Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist, Suppresses Food Intake via Arcuate Pro-Opiomelanocortin NeuronsSujin Yoo0Eun-Seon Yoo1Jae Il Kim2Jong-Woo Sohn3 Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, KoreaBackground Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin known for its anti-obesity effects, and several effective drugs targeting GLP-1 receptors (GLP-1Rs) have recently been developed to treat obesity. Although GLP-1Rs are expressed by various populations of central neurons, it is still unclear which specific populations mediate the anti-obesity effects of GLP-1R agonists. Methods In this study, we utilized the previously reported GLP-1R agonist, exendin-4(1-32)K-capric acid (Ex-4c), and conducted whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, immunohistochemistry experiments, and in vivo food intake measurements. Results Our findings indicate that the appetite-suppressing effects of Ex-4c depend on pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons. Fos immunochemistry experiments and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings showed that Ex-4c activated POMC neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Additionally, we observed that Ex-4c stimulated GLP-1Rs and activated the protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent signaling pathway, which in turn closed putative adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels, leading to the depolarization of POMC neurons. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that the appetite-suppressing effects of Ex-4c are mediated through the activation of arcuate POMC neurons. Furthermore, the PKA-dependent closure of putative KATP conductance is identified as the cellular mechanism responsible for the activation of POMC neurons.http://www.e-enm.org/upload/pdf/enm-2024-2185.pdfincretinshypothalamuselectrophysiologyimmunohistochemistryappetiteobesity
spellingShingle Sujin Yoo
Eun-Seon Yoo
Jae Il Kim
Jong-Woo Sohn
Exendin-4(1-32)K-Capric Acid, a Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist, Suppresses Food Intake via Arcuate Pro-Opiomelanocortin Neurons
Endocrinology and Metabolism
incretins
hypothalamus
electrophysiology
immunohistochemistry
appetite
obesity
title Exendin-4(1-32)K-Capric Acid, a Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist, Suppresses Food Intake via Arcuate Pro-Opiomelanocortin Neurons
title_full Exendin-4(1-32)K-Capric Acid, a Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist, Suppresses Food Intake via Arcuate Pro-Opiomelanocortin Neurons
title_fullStr Exendin-4(1-32)K-Capric Acid, a Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist, Suppresses Food Intake via Arcuate Pro-Opiomelanocortin Neurons
title_full_unstemmed Exendin-4(1-32)K-Capric Acid, a Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist, Suppresses Food Intake via Arcuate Pro-Opiomelanocortin Neurons
title_short Exendin-4(1-32)K-Capric Acid, a Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist, Suppresses Food Intake via Arcuate Pro-Opiomelanocortin Neurons
title_sort exendin 4 1 32 k capric acid a glucagon like peptide 1 receptor agonist suppresses food intake via arcuate pro opiomelanocortin neurons
topic incretins
hypothalamus
electrophysiology
immunohistochemistry
appetite
obesity
url http://www.e-enm.org/upload/pdf/enm-2024-2185.pdf
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