Projektbeschreibung
Adipositas in der Kindheit und die neuronale Entwicklung
Adipositas ist eine weltweite Belastung und Adipositas in der Kindheit gilt als schweres Gesundheitsproblem. Das EU-finanzierte Projekt ONTOGENY zielt auf die Entdeckung der Entwicklungsprozesse ab, die für die Steuerung der Energiehomöostase wichtig sind. Neuronen der hypothalamischen Agouti-ähnlichen Proteine (AgRP) könnten die Nahrungsaufnahme stimulieren, während Proopiomelanocortin-Neuronen (POMC) das Ernährungsverhalten hemmen. Das Projekt untersucht die späte Ontogenese von AgRP- und POMC-Neuronen, indem deren Aktivität bei der Entwicklung von Mäusen in Reaktion auf Nährstoffe und Hormone, die an der Energiehomöostase beteiligt sind, gemessen wird. Dies führt letztlich zu wichtigen Erkenntnissen über die AgRP- und POMC-Neuronenentwicklung unter Bedingungen, die für Adipositas in der Kindheit und für Stoffwechselstörungen relevant sind.
Ziel
Obesity is a significant global burden that is associated with adverse health outcomes. Adults are not alone in their struggles with obesity. Children now accumulate fat at an alarming rate, making childhood obesity a major health problem. Unfortunately, we do not know enough about the pathophysiology of these conditions to propose appropriate prevention strategies and more effective therapeutic approaches. In this ERC StG proposal, our goal is to discover the developmental processes important for proper con-trol of energy homeostasis. We will study Agrp and POMC neurons, located in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, that are heavily involved with control of energy homeostasis. Agrp and POMC neu-rons have delayed postnatal development, maturing their axonal projections around the third postnatal week in rodents. Here, we will study in detail this late ontogeny of Agrp and POMC neurons. In Aim 1, we will use novel approaches to measure Agrp and POMC neuronal activity during mouse development in response to nutrients and hormones involved in energy homeostasis. In Aim 2, we will use whole-brain imaging techniques to determine the anatomical development of Agrp and POMC neuronal projec-tions. We will also study the importance of a specific neuronal circuit in neonates to the development of obesity. Finally, in Aim 3, we will identify critical molecular mechanisms involved in the ontogeny of Agrp and POMC neurons by investigating their translatome over the course of postnatal development. Overall, this project will provide novel insights into Agrp and POMC neuron development in conditions relevant to childhood obesity and metabolic dysregulation. The functional, anatomical and molecular mechanisms illuminated here will provide the foundation for future studies aimed to dissect the devel-opment of other homeostatic systems.
Wissenschaftliches Gebiet
Schlüsselbegriffe
Programm/Programme
Thema/Themen
Finanzierungsplan
ERC-STG - Starting GrantGastgebende Einrichtung
OX1 2JD Oxford
Vereinigtes Königreich