Research Project: Molecular, Cellular, and Regulatory Aspects of Obesity Development

Location: Children's Nutrition Research Center

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Co-transmitting neurons in the lateral septal nucleus exhibit features of neurotransmitter switching - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hunt, P.J., Kochukov, M., Pekarek, B.T., Belfort, B.D., Romero, J.M., Swanson, J.L., Arenkiel, B.R. 2022. Co-transmitting neurons in the lateral septal nucleus exhibit features of neurotransmitter switching. IBRO Neuroscience Reports. 12:390-398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibneur.2022.05.003.

An exercise-inducible metabolite that suppresses feeding and obesity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Li, V., He, Y., Contrepois, K., Liu, H., Kim, J., Wiggenhorn, A., Tanzo, J., Tung, A., Lyu, X., Zushin, P., Jansen, R., Michael, B., Loh, K., Yang, A., Carl, C., Voldstedlund, C., Wei, W., Terrell, S., Moeller, B., Arthur, R., Wallis, G., Wetering, K., Stahl, A., Kiens, B., Richter, E., Banik, S., Snyder, M., Xu, Y., Long, J. 2022. An exercise inducible metabolite that suppresses feeding and obesity. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04828-5.

Advancements in the quest to map, monitor, and manipulate neural circuitry - (Review Article)
Swanson, J.L., Chin, P.S., Romero, J.M., Srivastava, S., Ortiz-Guzman, J., Hunt, P.J., Arenkiel, B.R. 2022. Advancements in the quest to map, monitor, and manipulate neural circuitry. Frontiers in Neural Circuits. 16. Article 886302. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncir.2022.886302.

A CRISPR toolbox for generating intersectional genetic mouse models for functional, molecular, and anatomical circuit mapping - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Lusk, S.J., McKinney, A., Hunt, P.J., Fahey, P.G., Patel, J., Chang, A., Sun, J.J., Martinez, V.K., Zhu, P.J., Egbert, J.R., Allen, G., Jiang, X., Arenkiel, B.R., Tolias, A.S., Costa-Mattioli, M., Ray, R.S. 2022. A CRISPR toolbox for generating intersectional genetic mouse models for functional, molecular, and anatomical circuit mapping. BMC Biology. 20. Article 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-022-01227-0.

An estrogen-sensitive hypothalamus-midbrain neural circuit controls thermogenesis and physical activity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ye, H., Feng, B., Wang, C., Saito, K., Yang, Y., Obrahimi, L., Schaul, S., Patel, N., Saenz, L., Luo, P., Lai, P., Torres, V., Kota, M., Dixit, D., Cai, X., Qu, N., Hyseni, I., Yu, K., Jiang, Y., Tong, Q., Sun, Z., Arenkiel, B.R., He, Y., Xu, P., Xu, Y. 2022. An estrogen-sensitive hypothalamus-midbrain neural circuit controls thermogenesis and physical activity. Science Advances. 8(3). Article eabk0185. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abk0185.

Hypothalamic steroid receptor coactivator-2 regulates adaptations to fasting and overnutrition - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yang, Y., He, Y., Liu, H., Zhou, W., Wang, C., Xu, P., Cai, X., Liu, H., Yu, K., Pei, Z., Hyseni, I., Fukuda, M., Tong, Q., Xu, J., Sun, Z., O'Malley, B., Xu, Y. 2021. Hypothalamic steroid receptor coactivator-2 regulates adaptations to fasting and overnutrition. Cell Reports. 37. Article 110075. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110075.

Galphai/o coupled Htr2c in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus antagonizes the anorectic effect of serotonin agents - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yoo, E., Li, L., Jia, L., Lord, C., Lee, C., Birnbaum, S., Vianna, C., Berglund, E., Cunningham, K., Xu, Y., Sohn, J., Liu, C. 2021. Galphai/o coupled Htr2c in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus antagonizes the anorectic effect of serotonin agents. Cell Reports. 37:109997. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109997.

Eating for hunger or pleasure: A serotonin model - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yan, Z., He, Y., Cai, X., Shu, G., Xu, Y. 2021. Eating for hunger or pleasure: A serotonin model. Journal of Molecular Cell Biology. 13(9):693-694. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmcb/mjab055.

Free-floating immunostaining of mouse brains - (Review Article)
Tu, L., Zhang, N., Conde, K., Bean, J., Wang, C., Xu, Y. 2021. Free-floating immunostaining of mouse brains. The Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE). 176. Article e62876. https://doi.org/10.3791/62876.

Hypothalamic perineuronal nets are regulated by sex and dietary interventions - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zhang, N., Yan, Z., Liu, H., Yu, M., He, Y., Liu, H., Liang, C., Tu, L., Wang, L., Yin, N., Han, J., Scarcelli, N., Yang, Y., Wang, C., Zeng, T., Chen, L., Xu, Y. 2021. Hypothalamic perineuronal nets are regulated by sex and dietary interventions. Frontiers in Physiology. 12. Article 714104. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.714104.

5-HT recruits distinct neurocircuits to inhibit hunger-driven and non-hunger-driven feeding - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
He, Y., Cai, X., Liu, H., Conde, K., Xu, P., Li, Y., Wang, C., Yu, M., He, Y., Liu, H., Liang, C., Yang, T., Yang, Y., Yu, K., Wang, J., Zheng, R., Liu, F., Sun, Z., Heisler, L., Wu, Q., Tong, Q., Zhu, C., Shu, G., Xu, Y. 2021. 5-HT recruits distinct neurocircuits to inhibit hunger-driven and non-hunger-driven feeding. Molecular Psychiatry. 26:7211-7224. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-021-01220-z.

Adipocyte iron levels impinge on a fat-gut crosstalk to regulate intestinal lipid absorption and mediate protection from obesity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zhang, Z., Funcke, J., Zi, Z., Zhao, S., Straub, L.G., Zhu, Y., Zhu, Q., Crewe, C., An, Y.A., Chen, S., Li, N., Wang, M., Ghaben, A.L., Lee, C., Gautron, L., Engelking, L.J., Raj, P., Deng, Y., Gordillo, R., Kusminski, C.M., Scherer, P.E. 2021. Adipocyte iron levels impinge on a fat-gut crosstalk to regulate intestinal lipid absorption and mediate protection from obesity. Cell Metabolism. 33:1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2021.06.001.

The role of GIP receptor in the CNS for the pathogenesis of obesity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Fukuda, M. 2021. The role of GIP receptor in the CNS for the pathogenesis of obesity. Diabetes. https://doi.org/10.2337/dbi21-0001.

Gene expression analysis of environmental temperature and high-fat diet-induced changes in mouse supraclavicular brown adipose tissue - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Shi, Y., Zhai, H., Sharon, J., Shen, Y., Ran, Y., Hoang, G., Chen, M. 2021. Gene expression analysis of environmental temperature and high-fat diet-induced changes in mouse supraclavicular brown adipose tissue. Cells. 10(6):1370. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10061370.

Deciphering an AgRP-serotoninergic neural circuit in distinct control of energy metabolism from feeding - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Han, Y., Xia, G., Srisai, D., Meng, F., He, Y., Ran, Y., He, Y., Farias, M., Hoang, G., Toth, I., Dietrich, M.O., Chen, M., Xu, Y., Wu, Q. 2021. Deciphering an AgRP-serotoninergic neural circuit in distinct control of energy metabolism from feeding. Nature Communications. 12:3525. Article https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23846-x.

Rap1 in the VMH regulates glucose homeostasis - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kaneko, K., Lin, H.Y., Fu, Y., Saha, P.K., De La Puente-Gomez, A.B., Xu, Y., Ohinata, K., Chen, P., Morozov, A., Fukuda, M. 2021. Rap1 in the VMH regulates glucose homeostasis. Journal of Clinical Immunology Insights (JCI Insights). https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.142545.

Barbadin potentiates long-term effects of lorcaserin on POMC neurons and weight loss - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
He, Y., Liu, H., Yin, N., Yang, Y., Wang, C., Yu, M., Liu, H., Liang, C., Wang, J., Tu, L., Zhang, N., Wang, L., He, Y., Fukuda, M., Wu, Q., Sun, Z., Tong, Q., Xu, Y. 2021. Barbadin potentiates long-term effects of lorcaserin on POMC neurons and weight loss. Journal of Neuroscience. 41(26):5734-5746. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3210-20.2021.

Adiponectin preserves metabolic fitness during aging - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Li, N., Zhao, S., Zhang, Z., Zhu, Y., Gliniak, C.M., Vishvanath, L., An, Y.A., Wang, M., Deng, Y., Zhu, Q., Shan, B., Sherwood, A., Onodera, T., Oz, O.K., Dixit, V.D., Scherer, P.E. 2021. Adiponectin preserves metabolic fitness during aging. eLife. 10:e65108. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.65108.

Asprosin-neutralizing antibodies as a treatment for metabolic syndrome - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mishra, I., Duerrschmid, C., Ku, Z., He, Y., Xie, W., Silva, E., Hoffman, J., Xin, W., Zhang, N., Xu, Y., An, Z., Chopra, A. 2021. Asprosin-neutralizing antibodies as a treatment for metabolic syndrome. eLife. 10. Article e63784. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.63784.

Cell lineage tracing links ERa loss in Erbb2-positive breast cancers to the arising of a highly aggressive breast cancer subtype - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ding, Y., Liu, Y., Lee, D., Tong, Z., Yu, X., Li, Y., Xu, Y., Lanz, R., O'Malley, B., Xu, J. 2021. Cell lineage tracing links ERa loss in Erbb2-positive breast cancers to the arising of a highly aggressive breast cancer subtype. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). 118:21. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2100673118.

A neural basis for brain leptin action on reducing type 1 diabetic hyperglycemia - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Fan, S., Xu, Y., Lu, Y., Jiang, Z., Li, H., Morrill, J., Cai, J., Wu, Q., Xu, Y., Xue, M., Arenkiel, B., Huang, C., Tong, Q. 2021. A neural basis for brain leptin action on reducing type 1 diabetic hyperglycemia. Nature Communications. 12. Article 2662. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22940-4.

A hindbrain dopaminergic neural circuit prevents weight gain by reinforcing food satiation - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Han, Y., Xia, G., He, Y., He, Y., Farias, M., Xu, Y., Wu, Q. 2021. A hindbrain dopaminergic neural circuit prevents weight gain by reinforcing food satiation. Science Advances. 7(22). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abf8719.

The hypothalamus for whole-body physiology: From metabolism to aging - (Review Article)
Liu, T., Xu, Y., Yi, C., Tong, Q., Cai, D. 2021. The hypothalamus for whole-body physiology: From metabolism to aging. Protein and Cell. 13(6):394-421. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13238-021-00834-x.

REV-ERB in GABAergic neurons controls diurnal hepatic insulin sensitivity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ding, G., Li, X., Hou, X., Zhou, W., Gong, Y., Liu, F., He, Y., Song, J., Wang, J., Basil, P., Li, W., Qian, S., Saha, P., Wang, J., Cui, C., Yang, T., Zou, K., Han, Y., Amos, C., Xu, Y., Chen, L., Sun, Z. 2021. REV-ERB in GABAergic neurons controls diurnal hepatic insulin sensitivity. Nature. 592:763-767. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03358-w.

Reciprocal control of obesity and anxiety-depressive disorder via a GABA and serotonin neural circuit - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Xia, G., Han, Y., Meng, F., He, Y., Srisai, D., Farias, M., Dang, M., Palmiter, R.D., Xu, Y., Wu, Q. 2021. Reciprocal control of obesity and anxiety-depressive disorder via a GABA and serotonin neural circuit. Molecular Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-021-01053-w.

Eosinophils attenuate hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice through ST2-dependent IL-13 production - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wang, Y., Yang, Y., Wang, M., Wang, S., Jeong, J., Xu, L., Wen, Y., Emontzpoh, C., Atkins, C., Duong, K., Moreno, N., Yuan, X., Hall, D., Dar, W., Feng, D., Gao, B., Xu, Y., Czigany, Z., Colgan, S., Bynon, S., Akira, S., Brown, J., Eltzschig, H., Jacobsen, E., Ju, C. 2021. Eosinophils attenuate hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice through ST2-dependent IL-13 production. Science Translational Medicine. 13(579). https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.abb6576.

AgRP neurons trigger long-term potentiation and facilitate food seeking - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wang, C., Zhou, W., He, Y., Yang, T., Xu, P., Yang, Y., Cai, X., Wang, J., Liu, H., Yu, M., Liang, C., Yang, T., Liu, H., Fukuda, M., Tong, Q., Wu, Q., Sun, Z., He, Y., Xu, Y. 2021. AgRP neurons trigger long-term potentiation and facilitate food seeking. Translational Psychiatry. 11. Article 11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-020-01161-1.

Glucagon blockade restores functional B-cell mass in type 1 diabetic mice and enhances function of human islets - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wang, M., Dean, D.E., Quittner-Strom, E., Zhu, Y., Chowdhury, K.H., Zhang, Z., Zhao, S., Li, N., Ye, R., Lee, Y., Zhang, Y., Chen, S., Yu, X., Leonard, D.C., Poffenberger, G., Deylen, A.V., McCorkle, S.K., Schlegel, A., Sloop, K.W., Efanov, A.M., Gimeno, R.E., Scherer, P.E., Powers, A.C., Unger, R.H., Holland, W.L. 2021. Glucagon blockade restores functional B-cell mass in type 1 diabetic mice and enhances function of human islets. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences(PNAS). 118(9):e2022142118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2022142118.

Estrogen-sensitive medial preoptic area neurons coordinate torpor in mice - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zhang, Z., Reis, F., He, Y., Park, J., Divittorio, J., Sivakumar, N., Van Veen, E., Maesta-Pereira, S., Shum, M., Nichols, I., Massa, M., Anderson, S., Paul, K., Liesa, M., Ajijola, O., Xu, Y., Adhikari, A., Correa, S. 2020. Estrogen-sensitive medial preoptic area neurons coordinate torpor in mice. Nature Communications. 11:6378. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20050-1.

TPH2 in the dorsal raphe nuclei regulates energy balance in a sex-dependent manner - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Liu, H., Wang, C., Yu, M., Yang, Y., He, Y., Liu, H., Liang, C., Tu, L., Zhang, N., Wang, L., Wang, J., Liu, F., Hu, F., Xu, Y. 2021. TPH2 in the dorsal raphe nuclei regulates energy balance in a sex-dependent manner. Endocrinology. 162(1):1-16. https://doi.org/10.1210/endocr/bqaa183.

Assessing whole-body lipid-handling capacity in mice - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Huang, M., Mathew, N., Zhu, Y. 2020. Assessing whole-body lipid-handling capacity in mice. The Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE). 165:e61927. https://doi.org/10.3791/61927.

AMPK in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus: A key regulator for thermogenesis - (Review Article)
Liu, H., Xu, Y., Hu, F. 2020. AMPK in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus: A key regulator for thermogenesis. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 11. Article 578830. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2020.578830.

The central melanocortin system and human obesity - (Review Article)
Yang, Y., Xu, Y. 2020. The central melanocortin system and human obesity. Journal of Molecular Cell Biology. 12(10):785-797. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmcb/mjaa048.

17B-estradiol promotes acute refeeding in hungry mice via membrane-initiated ERa signaling - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yu, K., He, Y., Hyseni, L., Pei, Z., Yang, Y., Xu, P., Cai, X., Liu, H., He, Y., Yu, M., Liang, C., Yang, T., Wang, J., Gourdy, P., Arnal, J., Lenfant, F., Xu, Y., Wang, C. 2020. 17B-estradiol promotes acute refeeding in hungry mice via membrane-initiated ERa signaling. Molecular Metabolism. 42. Article 101053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2020.101053.

Paraventricular hypothalamus mediates diurnal rhythm of metabolism - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kim, E., Xu, Y., Cassidy, R., Lu, Y., Yang, Y., Tian, J., Li, D., Drunen, R., Ribas-Latre, A., Cai, Z., Xue, M., Arenkiel, B., Eckel-Mahan, K., Xu, Y., Tong, Q. 2020. Paraventricular hypothalamus mediates diurnal rhythm of metabolism. Nature Communications. 11:3794. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17578-7.

Gut hormone GIP induces inflammation and insulin resistance in the hypothalamus - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Fu, Y., Kaneko, K., Lin, H.Y., Mo, Q., Xu, Y., Suganami, T., Ravn, P., Fukuda, M. 2020. Gut hormone GIP induces inflammation and insulin resistance in the hypothalamus. Endocrinology. https://doi.org/10.1210/endocr/bqaa102.

Profound and redundant functions of arcuate neurons in obesity development - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zhu, C., Jiang, Z., Xu, Y., Cai, Z., Jiang, Q., Xu, Y., Xue, M., Arenkiel, B., Wu, Q., Shu, G., Tong, Q. 2020. Profound and redundant functions of arcuate neurons in obesity development. Nature Metabolism. 2:763-774. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-020-0229-2.

Fat and fat-free mass index references in children and young adults: Assessments along racial and ethnic lines - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Shypailo, R.J., Wong, W.W. 2020. Fat and fat-free mass index references in children and young adults: Assessments along racial and ethnic lines. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqaa128.

Genetic variants affecting bone mineral density and bone mineral content at multiple skeletal site in Hispanic children - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hou, R., Cole, S.A., Graff, M., Haack, K., Laston, S., Comuzzie, A.G., Mehta, N.R., Ryan, K., Cousminer, D.L., Zemel, B.S., Grant, S.A., Mitchell, B.D., Shypailo, R.J., Gourlay, M.L., North, K.E., Butte, N.F., Voruganti, V. 2020. Genetic variants affecting bone mineral density and bone mineral content at multiple skeletal site in Hispanic children. Bone. 132:115175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bone.2019.115175.

Multi-level transcriptome sequencing identifies COL1A1 as a candidate marker in human heart failure progression - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hua, X., Wang, Y., Jia, P., Xiong, Q., Hu, Y., Chang, Y., Lai, S., Xu, Y., Zhao, Z., Song, J. 2020. Multi-level transcriptome sequencing identifies COL1A1 as a candidate marker in human heart failure progression. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 18(1):2 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-019-1469-4

Successful kidney transplantation is associated with weight gain from truncal obesity and insulin resistance - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Workeneh, B., Moore, L.W., Fong, J., Shypailo, R., Gaber, A., Mitch, W.E. 2019. Successful kidney transplantation is associated with weight gain from truncal obesity and insulin resistance. Journal of Renal Nutrition. 29(6):548-555. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jrn.2019.01.009.

GDF5 promotes white adipose tissue thermogenesis via p38 MAPK signaling pathway - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Zhang, W., Wu, X., Pei, Z., Kiess, W., Yang, Y., Xu, Y., Chang, Z., Wu, J., Sun, C., Luo, F. 2019. GDF5 promotes white adipose tissue thermogenesis via p38 MAPK signaling pathway. DNA and Cell Biology 38(11):1303-1312. https://doi.org/10.1089/dna.2019.4724

Methyl-sensing nuclear receptor liver receptor homolog-1 regulates mitochondrial function in mouse hepatocytes - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Choi, S., Dong, B., Lin, C.J., Heo, M., Kim, K., Sun, Z., Wagner, M., Putluri, N., Jae Myoung, S., Wang, M.C., Moore, D.D. 2020. Methyl-sensing nuclear receptor liver receptor homolog-1 regulates mitochondrial function in mouse hepatocytes. Hepatology. 71(3):1055-1069. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.30884.

A POMC-originated circuit regulates stress-induced hypophagia,depression, and anhedonia - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Qu, N., He, Y., Wang, C., Xu, P., Yang, Y., Cai, X., Liu, H., Yu, K., Pei, Z., Hyseni, L., Sun, Z., Fukuda, M., Li, Y., Tian, Q., Xu, Y. 2019. A POMC-originated circuit regulates stress-induced hypophagia, depression, and anhedonia. Molecular Psychiatry. 25:1006-1021. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-019-0506-1.

Identification of a neurocircuit underlying regulation of feeding by stress-related emotional responses - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Xu, Y., Lu, Y., Cassidy, R.M., Mangieri, L.R., Zhu, C., Huang, X., Jiang, Z., Justice, N.J., Xu, Y., Arenkiel, B.R., Tong, Q. 2019. Identification of a neurocircuit underlying regulation of feeding by stress-related emotional responses. Nature Communications. 10(1):3446 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11399-z

A lateral hypothalamus to basal forebrain neurocircuit promotes feeding by suppressing responses to anxiogenic environmental cues - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cassidy, R., Lu, Y., Jere, M., Tian, J., Xu, Y., Mangieri, L.R., Felix-Okoroji, B., Selever, J., Xu, Y., Arenkiel, B.R., Tong, Q. 2019. A lateral hypothalamus to basal forebrain neurocircuit promotes feeding by suppressing responses to anxiogenic environmental cues. Science Advances. 5(3):1640 https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aav1640