PUBLICATION

Human Semaphorin 3 Variants Link Melanocortin Circuit Development and Energy Balance

Authors
van der Klaauw, A.A., Croizier, S., Mendes de Oliveira, E., Stadler, L.K.J., Park, S., Kong, Y., Banton, M.C., Tandon, P., Hendricks, A.E., Keogh, J.M., Riley, S.E., Papadia, S., Henning, E., Bounds, R., Bochukova, E.G., Mistry, V., O'Rahilly, S., Simerly, R.B., INTERVAL, UK10K Consortium, Minchin, J.E.N., Barroso, I., Jones, E.Y., Bouret, S.G., Farooqi, I.S.
ID
ZDB-PUB-190122-2
Date
2019
Source
Cell   176(4): 729-742.e18 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Minchin, James, Tandon, Panna
Keywords
AgRP, Neuropilins, Plexins, Pomc, Semaphorin 3s, hypothalamus, obesity
MeSH Terms
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Body Weight
  • Cell Line
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Eating
  • Energy Metabolism/genetics*
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation/genetics
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Hypothalamus/metabolism
  • Leptin/metabolism
  • Male
  • Melanocortins/metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism
  • Neurons/metabolism
  • Obesity/genetics
  • Obesity/metabolism
  • Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism
  • Semaphorins/genetics*
  • Semaphorins/metabolism
  • Young Adult
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
30661757 Full text @ Cell
Abstract
Hypothalamic melanocortin neurons play a pivotal role in weight regulation. Here, we examined the contribution of Semaphorin 3 (SEMA3) signaling to the development of these circuits. In genetic studies, we found 40 rare variants in SEMA3A-G and their receptors (PLXNA1-4; NRP1-2) in 573 severely obese individuals; variants disrupted secretion and/or signaling through multiple molecular mechanisms. Rare variants in this set of genes were significantly enriched in 982 severely obese cases compared to 4,449 controls. In a zebrafish mutagenesis screen, deletion of 7 genes in this pathway led to increased somatic growth and/or adiposity demonstrating that disruption of Semaphorin 3 signaling perturbs energy homeostasis. In mice, deletion of the Neuropilin-2 receptor in Pro-opiomelanocortin neurons disrupted their projections from the arcuate to the paraventricular nucleus, reduced energy expenditure, and caused weight gain. Cumulatively, these studies demonstrate that SEMA3-mediated signaling drives the development of hypothalamic melanocortin circuits involved in energy homeostasis.
Genes / Markers
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Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
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Orthology
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Mapping