Newly identified group of nerve cells in the brain regulates bodyweight

• Researchers have discovered a specific group of nerve cells in the hypothalamus of the brain that influences eating behavior and weight gain.
• These nerve cells are controlled by the hormone leptin, which suppresses appetite
• Discovery offers the potential to develop further targeted treatments for obesity

The research group identified the so-called PNOC/NPY nerve cells in the brains of mice. When activated, these cells increase food intake and lead to obesity. Interestingly, these nerve cells are also present in the human brain. Using novel genetic and molecular biological tools, the researchers were able to analyze the neurons at the single cell level and divide them into different clusters. Within this large group of nerve cells, only one cluster is responsible for the observed eating behavior.

Removing Leptin Receptors

Previous studies have shown that PNOC neurons in the hypothalamus are particularly active when mice are fed a high-fat diet. In further analyses, the researchers found that around 10% of these nerve cells have a receptor for the hormone leptin. Leptin is produced in adipose tissue and suppresses appetite in the brain. If the leptin receptor in this cluster of PNOC nerve cells was removed, the mice ate more and became overweight.

"It was surprising that such a small group of nerve cells specifically leads to obesity," explains Marie Holm Solheim, first author of the study.

The researchers plan to continue studying these nerve cells to identify additional specific targets for potential drugs and to make them amenable to pharmacological intervention.

"We hope that drugs that act on this specialized group of nerve cells will offer promising alternative therapies," says Jens Brüning, head of the study. "However, there is still a long way to go before these can be used."