IGF1 Signaling Regulates Neuropeptide Expression in Hypothalamic Neurons Under Physiological and Pathological Conditions

Wenyuan He, Neruja Loganathan, Denise D Belsham
Endocrinology, Volume 166, Issue 5, May 2025, bqaf051
https://doi.org/10.1210/endocr/bqaf051

Abstract

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) plays a critical role in metabolism and aging, but its role in the brain remains unclear. This study examined whether hypothalamic neurons respond to IGF1 and how its actions are modulated. RT-qPCR and single-cell RNA sequencing indicated that Igf1r mRNA is expressed in neuropeptide Y/Agouti-related peptide (NPY/AgRP) neurons but has higher expression in pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons. IGF1 binding proteins Igfbp3 and Igfbp5 were significantly expressed, whereby Igfbp5 levels were modulated by fasting, nutrient availability, and circadian rhythms, implying that IGF1 signaling can be controlled by multiple mechanisms. In mouse and human models, IGF1 regulated Agrp, Npy, Pomc, Cartpt, Spx, Gal, and Fam237b expression, producing an overall anorexigenic profile. Hyperinsulinemia induced IGF1 resistance, accompanied by reduced IGF1R protein, as well as Igf1r and Irs2 mRNA expression via over-activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/forkhead box O1 (PI3K-FOXO1) signaling. Thus, hypothalamic neurons respond to IGF1 under physiological conditions, and hyperinsulinemia is a novel mechanism that drives cellular IGF1 resistance.

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