Biology subjects

Tomlinson, A. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Tomlinson, A. J..

7 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

A uniquely leptin sensitive hypothalamic neuron population limits hyperphagia and weight gain in diet-induced obesity

Despite widespread loss of leptin responsiveness in obesity, endogenous leptin continues to restrain feeding, yet the neural substrates that remain sensitive and mediate this effect are unknown. Combining spatial transcriptomics with single-nucleus RNA sequencing in mice with diet-induced obesity (DIO), we show that while most hypothalamic leptin receptor (Lepr) neurons minimally respond to elevated leptin, a single population defined by glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (Glp1r) co-expression retains robust leptin sensitivity. These Lepr/Glp1r neurons project onto and restrain orexigenic Agrp neurons. Lepr deletion from Lepr/Glp1r neurons blocks the anorectic effect of exogenous leptin, reinstates hyperphagic responses normally suppressed in DIO, amplifies the obesogenic response to palatable diet, and unexpectedly attenuates hypothalamic microglial activation- a hallmark of DIO previously attributed to diet rather than leptin signaling. Hence, preserved leptin action through a single neuronal population governs downstream circuit activity to limit hyperphagia and weight gain during obesity.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2025

A single dorsal vagal complex circuit mediates the aversive and anorectic responses to GLP1R agonists

GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs) effectively reduce feeding to treat obesity, although nausea and other aversive side effects of these drugs can limit their use. Brainstem circuits that promote satiation and that mediate the physiologic control of body weight can be distinguished from those that cause aversion. It remains unclear whether brainstem Glp1r neurons contribute to the normal regulation of energy balance and whether GLP1RAs control appetite via circuits distinct from those that mediate aversive responses, however. Hence, we defined roles for AP and NTS Glp1r-expressing neurons (APGlp1r and NTSGlp1r neurons, respectively) in the physiologic control of body weight, the GLP1RA-dependent suppression of food intake, and the GLP1RA-mediated stimulation of aversive responses. While silencing non-aversive NTSGlp1r neurons interfered with the physiologic restraint of feeding and body weight, restoring NTSGlp1r neuron Glp1r expression on an otherwise Glp1r-null background failed to enable long-term body weight suppression by GLP1RAs. In contrast, selective Glp1r expression in APGlp1r neurons restored both aversive responses and long-term body weight suppression by GLP1RAs. Thus, while non-aversive NTSGlp1r neurons control physiologic feeding, aversive APGlp1r neurons mediate both the anorectic and weight loss effects of GLP1RAs, dictating the functional inseparability of these pharmacologic GLP1RA responses at a circuit level.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

A Cross-Species Atlas of the Dorsal Vagal Complex Reveals Neural Mediators of Cagrilintide's Effects on Energy Balance

Amylin analogs, including potential anti-obesity therapies like cagrilintide, act on neurons in the brainstem dorsal vagal complex (DVC) that express calcitonin receptors (CALCR). These receptors, often combined with receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs), mediate the suppression of food intake and body weight. To understand the molecular and neural mechanisms of cagrilintide action, we used single-nucleus RNA sequencing to define 89 cell populations across the rat, mouse, and non-human primate caudal brainstem. We then integrated spatial profiling to reveal neuron distribution in the rat DVC. Furthermore, we compared the acute and long-term transcriptional responses to cagrilintide across DVC neurons of rats, which exhibit strong cagrilintide responsiveness, and mice, which respond poorly to cagrilintide over the long term. We found that cagrilintide promoted long-term transcriptional changes, including increased prolactin releasing hormone (Prlh) expression, in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) Calcr/Prlh cells in rats, but not in mice, suggesting the importance of NTS Calcr/Prlh cells for sustained weight loss. Indeed, activating rat area postrema Calcr cells briefly reduced food intake but failed to decrease food intake or body weight over the long term. Overall, these results not only provide a cross-species and spatial atlas of DVC cell populations but also define the molecular and neural mediators of acute and long-term cagrilintide action.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2024

A unified rodent atlas reveals the cellular complexity and evolutionary divergence of the dorsal vagal complex

The dorsal vagal complex (DVC) is a region in the brainstem comprised of an intricate network of specialized cells responsible for sensing and propagating many appetite-related cues. Understanding the dynamics controlling appetite requires deeply exploring the cell types and transitory states harbored in this brain site. We generated a multi-species DVC cell atlas using single nuclei RNAseq (sn-RNAseq), by curating and harmonizing mouse and rat data, which includes >180,000 cells and 123 cell identities at 5 granularities of cellular resolution. We report unique DVC features such as Kcnj3 expression in Ca+-permeable astrocytes as well as new cell populations like neurons co-expressing Th and Cck, and a leptin receptor-expressing neuron population in the rat area postrema which is marked by expression of the progenitor marker, Pdgfra. In summary, our findings demonstrate a high degree of complexity within the DVC and provide a valuable tool for the study of this metabolic center.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Control of Physiologic Glucose Homeostasis via the Hypothalamic Modulation of Gluconeogenic Substrate Availability

The brain augments glucose production during fasting, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we show that Cckbr-expressing neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMNCckbr cells) prevent low blood glucose during fasting through sympathetic nervous system (SNS)-mediated augmentation of adipose tissue lipolysis and substrate release. Activating VMNCckbr neurons mobilized gluconeogenic substrates without altering glycogenolysis or gluconeogenic enzyme expression. Silencing these cells (CckbrTetTox animals) reduced fasting blood glucose, impaired lipolysis, and decreased circulating glycerol (but not other gluconeogenic substrates) despite normal insulin, counterregulatory hormones, liver glycogen, and liver gluconeogenic gene expression. Furthermore, {beta}3-adrenergic adipose tissue stimulation in CckbrTetTox animals restored lipolysis and blood glucose. Hence, VMNCckbr neurons impact blood glucose not by controlling islet or liver physiology, but rather by mobilizing gluconeogenic substrates. These findings establish a central role for hypothalamic and SNS signaling during normal glucose homeostasis and highlight the importance of gluconeogenic substrate mobilization during physiologic fasting.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Leptin-mediated suppression of food intake by conserved Glp1r-expressing neurons prevents obesity

The adipose-derived hormone leptin acts via its receptor (LepRb) in the brain to control energy balance. A previously unidentified population of GABAergic hypothalamic LepRb neurons plays key roles in the restraint of food intake and body weight by leptin. To identify markers for candidate populations of LepRb neurons in an unbiased manner, we performed single-nucleus RNA-sequencing of enriched mouse hypothalamic LepRb cells, as well as with total hypothalamic cells from multiple mammalian species. In addition to identifying known LepRb neuron types, this analysis identified several previously unrecognized populations of hypothalamic LepRb neurons. Many of these populations display strong conservation across species, including GABAergic Glp1r-expressing LepRb (LepRbGlp1r) neurons that express more Lepr and respond more robustly to exogenous leptin than other LepRb populations. Ablating LepRb from these cells provoked hyperphagic obesity without impairing energy expenditure. Conversely, reactivating LepRb in Glp1r-expressing cells decreased food intake and body weight in otherwise LepRb-null mice. Furthermore, LepRb reactivation in GABA neurons improved energy balance in LepRb-null mice, and this effect required the expression of LepRb in GABAergic Glp1r-expressing neurons. Thus, the conserved GABAergic LepRbGlp1r neuron population plays crucial roles in the control of food intake and body weight by leptin.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Cross-Species Analysis Defines the Conservation of Anatomically-Segregated VMH Neuron Populations

The ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) controls diverse behaviors and physiologic functions, suggesting the existence of multiple VMH neural subtypes with distinct functions. Combing Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification with RNA sequencing (TRAP-seq) data with snRNA-seq data, we identified 24 mouse VMH neuron clusters. Further analysis, including snRNA-seq data from macaque tissue, defined a more tractable VMH parceling scheme consisting of 6 major genetically- and anatomically-differentiated VMH neuron classes with good cross-species conservation. In addition to two major ventrolateral classes, we identified three distinct classes of dorsomedial VMH neurons. Consistent with previously-suggested unique roles for leptin receptor (Lepr)-expressing VMH neurons, Lepr expression marked a single dorsomedial class. We also identified a class of glutamatergic VMH neurons that resides in the tuberal region, anterolateral to the neuroanatomical core of the VMH. This atlas of conserved VMH neuron populations provides an unbiased starting point for the analysis of VMH circuitry and function.

neuroscience↗