Biology subjects

Geisler, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Geisler, S..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

C3a receptor signalling in ObRb-expressing neurons promotes leptin resistance and obesity-associated cardiac remodelling

Obesity is associated with hypothalamic inflammation, leptin resistance and increased cardiometabolic risk, but the neuroimmune signals linking nutrient excess to these outcomes remain incompletely defined. Here we show that diet-induced obesity is accompanied by local complement activation in the mouse hypothalamus, leading to C3a generation that signals through C3a receptor (C3aR) on leptin receptor (ObRb)-expressing neurons and blunts leptin signaling. Deletion of C3aR in ObRb-expressing neurons preserves leptin responsiveness, reduces food intake and weight gain, and improves glucose homeostasis during dietary challenge. Systemic pharmacological C3aR targeting induces weight loss and improves leptin responsiveness in established obesity. Genetic or pharmacological C3aR targeting also attenuates obesity-associated diastolic dysfunction and myocardial fibrosis; pair-feeding experiments reveal an additional component of cardiac protection beyond reduced weight gain, associated with lower cardiac sympathetic innervation. In humans, circulating complement activation markers are elevated in obesity and decline after bariatric surgery. Together, our findings identify C3aR signaling in ObRb-expressing neurons as a neuroimmune pathway contributing to hypothalamic leptin resistance and obesity-associated cardiac remodeling, highlighting complement signaling as a potential therapeutic target in cardiometabolic disease.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2026

Plasma metabolite responses to an oral protein tolerance test differ between young and sarcopenic participants and suggest altered anabolic sensitivity

BackgroundSarcopenia is associated with anabolic resistance, a blunted muscle protein synthesis response to protein ingestion. Here, we hypothesized that anabolic resistance may be associated with a delayed postprandial decline in circulating plasma amino acids following protein ingestion. We therefore wanted to investigate whether an oral protein tolerance test (OPTT) combined with untargeted plasma metabolomics can detect age-related or sarcopenia-related differences in amino acid time courses consistent with altered postprandial amino acid handling, which could potentially reflect reduced anabolic sensitivity. Moreover, we investigated whether metabolites other than amino acids reacted to the OPTT. MethodsTwelve young healthy adults (controls: 22-28 years) and 12 older adults with clinically diagnosed probable or confirmed sarcopenia (70-91 years) ingested 20 g of whey protein after an overnight fast. We collected venous blood at baseline, 1 h, and 2 h post-ingestion and analyzed the samples by untargeted LC-HRMS plasma metabolomics. Linear mixed-effects models were fitted for 2,968 metabolic features with Benjamini-Hochberg FDR correction. For each category (branched-chain amino acid, essential amino acid [EAA], total amino acid) we summed the within-subject log2 fold changes (FC) of the constituent amino acids. This composite is reported as the summed log2FC Results201 metabolites were structurally annotated including 58 amino acid-related metabolites and 97 lipids. Fourteen of 17 proteinogenic amino acids increased significantly after protein ingestion (FDR<0.05). In young controls, essential amino acids rose more steeply at 1 h than in sarcopenic individuals (+10.06 {+/-} 1.05 vs. +7.84 {+/-} 1.58 summed log2FC) and declined more between 1 and 2 h (-4.93 {+/-} 1.29 vs. -0.20 {+/-} 2.27 summed log2FC). Leucine exemplified this pattern best, rising 1.74 log2FC in controls and declining to 0.96 at 2 h, while remaining elevated at 1.61 log2FC in the sarcopenic group at 2 h (p=0.009). Beyond amino acids, whey protein lowered circulating free fatty acids in both groups (FA 18:2, FA 18:1, FA 16:0; all FDR<0.05). Medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines (Car 8:0, Car14:2) declined postprandially in controls but remained elevated in sarcopenic individuals (p<0.05), suggesting altered postprandial lipid metabolism. ConclusionIn this proof-of-concept study, an OPTT showed that plasma EAAs declined more slowly from their postprandial peak in older adults with sarcopenia than in young adults, consistent with altered postprandial amino acid handling that may reflect anabolic resistance. Whey protein ingestion additionally modulates lipid and acylcarnitine metabolism in an age-dependent manner, suggesting broader alterations in postprandial metabolic regulation in older adults with sarcopenia.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Macrophage depletion restores the DRG microenvironment and prevents axon degeneration in bortezomib-induced neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is a common and debilitating side effect of the chemotherapeutic bortezomib (BTZ). To explore the mechanisms underlying BTZ-induced neuropathy (BIPN), we developed a mouse model that replicates the route of administration and approximates the prolonged BTZ exposure experienced by patients. We find that male mice treated with BTZ experience more severe sensorimotor dysfunction and axon loss compared to females and observed similar results when analyzing human data. Using single cell RNA-sequencing, we reveal that BTZ significantly alters the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) microenvironment in mice, producing pronounced sex-specific changes in satellite glial cells (SGCs) in males and females and dysregulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), particularly in males. These changes are accompanied by expansion of macrophages, which is more pronounced in males. We identify four macrophage subtypes in the DRG, including a pro-fibrotic population that is exclusively associated with BIPN. Depletion of macrophages via anti-CSF1R treatment in male mice prevents BTZ-induced SGC activation and aberrant collagen deposition in DRGs, potently preserves peripheral axons, and improves functional outcomes. These findings highlight SGCs, neuroinflammation and dysregulation of the ECM as drivers of sex-specific differences in BIPN and suggest that targeting neuroinflammation is a promising therapeutic strategy to treat this disease. One Sentence SummaryInflammation and neurofibrosis in DRGs underlie sex-specific differences in bortezomib-induced neuropathy and are promising treatment targets.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

Presynaptic α2δ subunits are key organizers of glutamatergic synapses

In nerve cells the genes encoding for 2{delta} subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) have been linked to synaptic functions and neurological disease. Here we show that 2{delta} subunits are essential for the formation and organization of glutamatergic synapses. Using a cellular 2{delta} subunit triple loss-of-function model, we demonstrate a failure in presynaptic differentiation associated with the downscaling of postsynaptic AMPA receptors and the postsynaptic density. The role of 2{delta} isoforms as synaptic organizers is highly redundant, as each individual 2{delta} isoform can rescue presynaptic calcium channel trafficking and expression of synaptic proteins. Mutating the MIDAS site in 2{delta}-2 dissociates rescuing presynaptic synapsin expression from calcium channel trafficking, suggesting that the regulatory role of 2{delta} subunits is independent from its role as a calcium channel subunit. Our findings influence the current view on excitatory synapse formation. Firstly, our study suggests that postsynaptic differentiation is secondary to presynaptic differentiation. Secondly, the dependence of presynaptic differentiation on 2{delta} implicates 2{delta} subunits as potential nucleation points for the organization of synapses. Finally, our results suggest that 2{delta} subunits act as trans-synaptic organizers of glutamatergic synapses, thereby aligning the synaptic active zone with the postsynaptic density.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

PINK1 Regulates Dopamine and Lipids at Mitochondria to Maintain Synapses and Neuronal Function

Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of Parkinsons disease but it is not clear why inherent mitochondrial defects lead specifically to the death of dopaminergic neurons of the mid brain. PINK1 is mitochondrial kinase and PINK1 mutations cause early onset Parkinsons disease.\n\nWe found that in neuronal progenitors, PINK1 regulates mitochondrial morphology, mitochondrial contact to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the phosphorylation of Miro1. A compensatory metabolic shift towards lipid synthesis provides mitochondria with the components needed for membrane renewal and oxidative phosphorylation, maintaining the mitochondrial network once mature.\n\nCholesterol is increased by loss of PINK1, promoting overall membrane rigidity. This alters the distribution of phosphorylated DAT at synapses and impairs dopamine uptake. PINK1 is required for the phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase at Ser19, dopamine and calcium homeostasis and dopaminergic pacemaking.\n\nWe suggest a novel mechanism for PINK1 pathogenicity in Parkinsons disease in addition to but not exclusive of mitophagy. We also provide a basis for potential therapeutics by showing that low doses of the cholesterol depleting drug {beta}-cyclodextrin reverse PINK1-specific phenotypes.

neuroscience↗