Loss of the liver X receptor LXRα/β in peripheral sensory neurons modifies energy expenditure
Virginie Mansuy-Aubert,
Laurent Gautron,
Syann Lee,
Angie L Bookout,
Christine M Kusminski,
Kai Sun,
Yuan Zhang,
Philipp E Scherer,
David J Mangelsdorf,
Joel K Elmquist
Affiliations
Virginie Mansuy-Aubert
Division of Hypothalamic Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
Laurent Gautron
Division of Hypothalamic Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
Syann Lee
Division of Hypothalamic Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
Angie L Bookout
Department of Pharmacology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
Christine M Kusminski
Touchstone Diabetes Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
Kai Sun
Touchstone Diabetes Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
Yuan Zhang
Department of Pharmacology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
Philipp E Scherer
Touchstone Diabetes Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
Department of Pharmacology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
Joel K Elmquist
Division of Hypothalamic Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States; Department of Pharmacology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
Peripheral neural sensory mechanisms play a crucial role in metabolic regulation but less is known about the mechanisms underlying vagal sensing itself. Recently, we identified an enrichment of liver X receptor alpha and beta (LXRα/β) in the nodose ganglia of the vagus nerve. In this study, we show mice lacking LXRα/β in peripheral sensory neurons have increased energy expenditure and weight loss when fed a Western diet (WD). Our findings suggest that the ability to metabolize and sense cholesterol and/or fatty acids in peripheral neurons is an important requirement for physiological adaptations to WDs.
