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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: Nat Med. 2010 Aug 29;16(9):1001–1008. doi: 10.1038/nm.2207

Hypothalamic AMPK and fatty acid metabolism mediate thyroid regulation of energy balance

Miguel López 1,2,3, Luis Varela 1,2, María J Vázquez 1,2, Sergio Rodríguez-Cuenca 3, Carmen R González 1,2, Vidya R Velagapudi 4, Donald A Morgan 5, Erik Schoenmakers 3, Khristofor Agassandian 6, Ricardo Lage 1,2, Pablo Blanco Martínez de Morentin 1,2, Sulay Tovar 1,2, Rubén Nogueiras 1,2, David Carling 7, Christopher Lelliott 8, Rosalía Gallego 9,11, Matej Orešič 4,11, Krishna Chatterjee 3,11, Asish K Saha 10,11, Kamal Rahmouni 5, Carlos Diéguez 1,2, Antonio Vidal-Puig 3
PMCID: PMC2935934  NIHMSID: NIHMS227316  PMID: 20802499

Abstract

Thyroid hormones have widespread cellular effects; however it is unclear whether their effects on the central nervous system (CNS) contribute to global energy balance. Here, we demonstrate that either whole body hyperthyroidism or central administration of triiodothyronine (T3) decreases the activity of hypothalamic AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), increases sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity and upregulates thermogenic markers in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Inhibition of the lipogenic pathway in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) prevents CNS-mediated activation of BAT by thyroid hormone and reverses the weight loss associated with hyperthyroidism. Similarly inhibition of thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) in the VMH reverses the weight loss associated with hyperthyroidism. This regulatory mechanism depends on AMPK inactivation as genetic ablation of this enzyme in the VMH of euthyroid rats induces feeding-independent weight loss and increases expression of thermogenic markers in BAT. These effects are reversed by pharmacological blockade of the SNS. Thus, thyroid-hormone-induced modulation of AMPK activity and lipid metabolism in the hypothalamus is an important regulator of energy homeostasis.

The thyroid axis is an important modulator of both energy balance and lipid metabolism 1-3. Hyperthyroidism is a clinical disorder characterized by excessive production of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), which causes a hypermetabolic state characterized by increased energy expenditure and weight loss, despite marked hyperphagia 3, 4. Although it is generally assumed that most effects of thyroid hormones on energy homeostasis are exerted peripherally 1, 3, 5 recent evidence indicates that hypothalamic neurons sense nutritional deficit through a mechanism that involves local generation of T3 and leading to the induction of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) 2.

Excess thyroid hormone elicits substantial changes in lipid metabolism. Specifically, hyperthyroidism leads to increased fatty acid synthesis in liver, kidney, heart, BAT and white adipose tissue (WAT), through increased expression and activation of key lipogenic enzymes such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) 6-9. AMPK activity is stimulated in muscle in hyperthyroid states 10-13. In contrast, it is generally assumed that thyroid status does not alter fatty acid biosynthesis in the whole brain 6, 8, 14, 15. However, thyroid hormones might selectively modulate lipid metabolism in discrete areas of the hypothalamus that contribute to energy balance; a theory supported by the recent finding that hypothalamic de novo lipogenesis is involved in the physiological control of feeding 16-20. Furthermore, evidence indicates that fatty acid metabolism is regulated differently in the hypothalamus compared to other CNS regions, in addition to pharmacological studies and genetic models, showing that impaired hypothalamic lipid metabolism impacts on the control of feeding 19-28. However, despite such evidence there is no data linking alterations of these homeostatic mechanisms to a specific disease state.

Here, we show that thyroid hormones regulate lipid metabolism in the hypothalamus and investigate whether this effect accounts for the changes in energy balance typically associated with hyperthyroidism. Our data demonstrate that de novo lipogenesis increases specifically in the hypothalamus of hyperthyroid rats and that this effect is directly mediated by T3. This enhanced lipogenesis leads to activation of the SNS and induction of BAT. Overall, these data indicate that fatty acid metabolism in the hypothalamus mediates the physiological and pathophysiological effects of thyroid hormone on energy balance.

RESULTS

Hyperthyroid rats lose weight despite marked hyperphagia

Confirming their hyperthyroid status T4-treated rats exhibited increased plasma T4 and T3, reduced thyrotropin (TSH) levels and reduced thyrotropin-releasing hormone (Thr) expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) (Supplementary Table 1). T4-treated animals gained considerable less weight (Supplementary Fig. 1a) despite marked hyperphagia (Supplementary Fig. 1b). Analysis of fat-pads showed that T4-treatment decreased WAT and increased BAT mass compared with euthyroid rats (Supplementary Fig. 1c and Supplementary Table 1). Diiodothyronine (T2), an inactive thyroid hormone metabolite, did not change either body weight or food intake (data not shown).

Consistent with their hyperphagic state, expression of agouti-related protein (Agrp) and neuropeptide Y (Npy) increased and levels of proopiomelanocortin (Pomc) decreased in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC) of hyperthyroid rats (Supplementary Fig. 1d).

Hyperthyroidism inhibits the hypothalamic AMPK pathway

Hyperthyroid rats, but not rats treated with T2 (data not shown), showed a marked decrease in phosphorylation of hypothalamic AMPKα (pAMPKα) and ACCα (pACCα) associated with a decrease in the concentration and activity of AMPKα1 (Fig. 1a). Our data also revealed a marked increase in FAS protein concentration (Fig. 1a), FAS expression (encoded by Fasn) (Fig. 1b and Supplementary Fig. 1e) and the concentration of malonyl-CoA (Fig. 1c) in the hypothalamus of hyperthyroid rats, accompanied by a reduction in carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) activity (Fig. 1d). Food restriction reduced malonyl-CoA concentration in the hypothalamus of euthyroid rats but had no effect in hyperthyroid rats (Supplementary Fig. 1f). Hyperthyroidism did not alter the AMPK pathway in the cerebral cortex (Supplementary Fig. 2a), indicating that thyroid hormone excess specifically activates the early stages of fatty acid lipogenesis in the hypothalamus. By using a lipidomic approach we also saw increased accumulation of complex lipid species specifically in the hypothalamus of hyperthyroid rats (data not shown). As in the hypothalamus, hyperthyroidism decreased AMPK levels in liver, but increases it in muscle and WAT (Supplementary Fig. 2b–d).

Figure 1. Energy balance, AMPK pathway and POMC expression.

Figure 1

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(a) Western blots (left panel) for hypothalamic protein levels (middle panels) of pAMPKα, AMPKα1, AMPKα2, tAMPKα, pACCα, ACCα (lower band in the tAMPK gel), ACCβ (upper band in the tAMPK gel) and FAS and hypothalamic AMPKα1 and AMPKα2 activities (right panel) in euthyroid and hyperthyroid rats. (b–d) Hypothalamic levels of Fasn (b), malonyl-CoA content (c) and CPT1 activity (d) in euthyroid and hyperthyroid rats. (e–i) Body weight change (e), daily food intake (f), hypothalamic malonyl-CoA levels (g), Pomc mRNA levels in the ARC (h) and western blots (left panel) for hypothalamic protein levels (right panel) of pFoxO1 and pSTAT3 (i) of euthyroid and hyperthyroid rats treated ICV with vehicle or cerulenin for 4 d. ¶P = 0.1, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. vehicle or euthyroid vehicle; #P < 0.05 euthyroid cerulenin vs. hyperthyroid cerulenin; ###P < 0.001 hyperthyroid vehicle vs. hyperthyroid cerulenin; all data are expressed as mean ± SEM.

We also analyzed the effect of hypothyroidism induced in rats by 3-week treatment with aminotriazole (AMT) which decreased plasma concentrations of T4 and T3, increased plasma TSH levels and increased Trh expression in the PVH (Supplementary Table 1). Hypothyroidism increased AMPKα1 levels and activity in the hypothalamus (Supplementary Fig. 2e,f) and markedly decreased FAS concentration in the liver (Supplementary Fig. 2g). The AMPK pathway was activated in the muscle and WAT of hypothyroid rats (Supplementary Fig. 2h,i).

Hyperthyroid rats do not respond to central FAS inhibition

Our data showed that hyperthyroid rats were hyperphagic despite a higher concentration of hypothalamic malonyl-CoA than euthyroid rats. We therefore tested whether further increasing malonyl-CoA levels by inhibiting FAS 21, 26, 27 would reverse hyperphagia in hyperthyroid animals. To evaluate this, we centrally treated hyperthyroid rats with the FAS inhibitor cerulenin for 4 d. This treatment did not alter body weight (Fig. 1e) or food intake (Fig. 1f and Supplementary Fig. 3a) in hyperthyroid rats, despite a marked additional increase in hypothalamic malonyl-CoA levels (Fig. 1g). In contrast, in euthyroid rats, the same dose of cerulenin increased malonyl-CoA to levels comparable to those in hyperthyroid rats, accompanied by marked anorexia and weight loss (Fig. 1e–g and Supplementary Fig. 3a).

We observed no change in the expression of either Agrp or Npy in the ARC after cerulenin treatment (Supplementary Fig. 3b,c). However, cerulenin induced a marked increase in Pomc mRNA in euthyroid but not hyperthyroid rats (Fig. 1h and Supplementary Fig. 3d), which might account for the anorexic effects of this drug in euthyroid animals. The increase in Pomc expression was accompanied by parallel changes in the concentration of phospho-forkhead box O1 (pFoxO1) and phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3) (Fig. 1i),

Central T3 increase BAT thermogenesis through β3 adrenoceptors

Chronic intracerebroventricular (ICV) treatment with T3 markedly reduced body weight (Fig. 2a,b) without altering food intake (Fig. 2c,d) in either euthyroid or hypothyroid rats. Such treatment decreased phosphorylation of hypothalamic AMPK and ACC (Fig. 2e). It also increased the expression of thermogenic markers, such as uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1) and 3 (Ucp3), peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator 1 alpha (PGC1α, encoded by Ppargc1a), fatty acid binding protein 3 (Fabp3), hormone sensitive lipase (HSL, encoded by Lipe), lipoprotein lipase (Lpl) and type 2 deiodinase (D2, encoded by Dio2) in the BAT of euthyroid rats (Fig. 2f), but not in other peripheral organs, such as liver and muscle (Supplementary Fig. 4a,b). Chronic ICV treatment with T3 also increased Ucp1, Ucp3, Dio2 and Fabp3 expression in the BAT of hypothyroid rats but did not have major effects in other thermogenic markers either in liver or muscle (Supplementary Fig. 4c-e). ICV administration of T3 did not alter plasma T3 or T4 (data not shown). Furthermore, there were no changes in body weight, food intake, the hypothalamic AMPK pathway or the thermogenic program in BAT following intraperitoneal (IP) administration of T3 at the dose administered ICV (Supplementary Fig. 4f-i).

Figure 2. Effects of chronic central T3 administration.

Figure 2

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(a–d) Body weight change (a, b), daily food intake (c, d) of euthyroid and hypothyroid rats ICV-treated with T3 for 4 d. (e–f) Western blots (left panel) for hypothalamic protein levels (right panel) of pAMPKα, AMPKα1, AMPKα2, pACCα and ACCα (e) and mRNA expression profiles in BAT (f) of euthyroid rats ICV-treated with T3 for 4 d. (g–i) Body weight change (g), daily food intake (h) and mRNA expression profiles in BAT (i) of euthyroid rats ICV-treated with T3 and subcutaneously (SC) -treated with the β3-AR specific antagonist SR59230A for 4 d.!P = 0.09, ¡P = 0.08, +P = 0.06, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. vehicle; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 T3 ICV vs. T3 ICV SR59230A; all data are expressed as mean ± SEM.

In rodents, SNS stimulation activates beta 3 adrenoceptors (β3-AR, encoded by Adrb3) on brown adipocytes 5, 29. Pharmacological antagonism of β3-AR by subcutaneous administration of the specific antagonist SR59230A 30 prevented the reduction in body weight associated with central administration of T3 (Fig. 2g) without changing food intake (Fig. 2h). In keeping with these observations, SR59230A blocked central T3-induction of the thermogenic program in BAT (Fig. 2i).

Central T3 activates the SNS subserving BAT

Colocalization studies of pAMPKα and thyroid hormone receptor alpha (TRα) showed that pAMPKα is widely expressed in the hypothalamus, with high levels in the ARC, PVH and VMH (Supplementary Fig. 5a-c) and that there is a high degree of colocalization of pAMPKα and TRα in the VMH (Fig. 3a).

Figure 3. Effects of central T3 on BAT activation via the SNS.

Figure 3

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(a) Double immunohistochemistry (upper: 40 ×, scale bar, 200 μm; lower: 200 ×; scale bar, 20 μm) showing pAMPKα and TRα coexpression in the VMH. (b–e) Western blots (left panel) for hypothalamic protein levels (right panel) of pAMPKα, AMPKα1, AMPKα2, pACCα and ACCα (b), immunohistochemistry showing c-FOS immunoreactivity (IR) in the DMV (upper images 40 ×, scale bar, 200 μm) and in the RPa and the IO (lower images 100 ×, scale bar 100 μm) and c-FOS-IR cells in those nuclei (c) and BAT SNA (d, e) of euthyroid rats 1–3 h (protein and c-FOS) or 6 h (SNA) after ICV treatment with T3. (f, g) Western blots (left panel) for hypothalamic protein levels (right panel) of pAMPKα, AMPKα1, AMPKα2, pACCα and ACCα (f) and BAT SNA (g) of euthyroid rats 1 h after VMH microinjection of T3. P = 0.1, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. vehicle; #P < 0.05 T3 ICV 2 ng vs. T3 ICV 4 ng; all data are expressed as mean ± SEM. 3V: third ventricle; CC: central canal; HN: hypoglossal nucleus.

ICV injection of T3 exerted a robust, rapid (within 1 h) reduction in pAMPK and pACC levels in the hypothalamus (Fig. 3b) accompanied by a marked increase in c-FOS immunoreactivity (IR) in the raphe pallidus (RPa), the inferior olive (IO) nuclei and in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV). Notably, all these nuclei receive neuronal projections from the VMH 5, 31 (Fig. 3c). This central effect of T3 was associated with a dose-dependent increase in activity of SNS subserving to BAT (Fig. 3d,e). Of note, we detected no changes in feeding after acute ICV treatment with T3 (Supplementary Fig. 5d). Stereotaxic administration of T3 to the VMH (Supplementary Fig. 5e) caused a rapid (within 1 h) effect, decreasing both pAMPK and pACC in this area (Fig. 3f), accompanied by increased BAT sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) (Fig. 3g). Acute VMH treatment with T3 did not induce changes in food intake (Supplementary Fig. 5f).

Central T3 is essential for BAT thermogenic program

We then ablated TR action in the VMH of hyperthyroid rats using an adenovirus encoding a dominant-negative TR (TR-DN) 32, as previously described 19 (Supplementary Fig. 6a-c). TR-DN adenovirus prevented T3-dependent activation of a thyroid response element-driven reporter gene and inhibited induction of sex hormone binding globulin (Shbg) expression (Supplementary Fig. 6d-f).

Injecting TR-DN into the VMH of hyperthyroid rats blunted weight loss (Fig. 4a), did not alter either feeding (Fig. 4b) or circulating levels of T3 and T4 (Fig. 4c,d) and decreased expression of thermogenic markers in BAT (Fig. 4e), Similar treatment in euthyroid rats was without effect (Supplementary Fig. 6g-j).

Figure 4. Effects of genetic ablation of thyroid hormone receptor in the VMH.

Figure 4

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(a–e) Body weight change (a), daily food intake (b), plasma T3 (c) and T4 (d) levels and mRNA expression profiles in BAT (e) of hyperthyroid (and euthyroid when indicated) rats stereotaxically treated with GFP-expressing adenoviruses or GFP plus TR-DN adenoviruses into the VMH. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. euthyroid GFP or hyperthyroid GFP; all data are expressed as mean ± SEM.

Central T3 effect on BAT depends on hypothalamic lipogenesis

ICV administration of the ACC inhibitor TOFA did not alter body weight in euthyroid rats; however, it reversed weight loss in hyperthyroid rats without changes in feeding (Fig. 5a). The increase in body weight induced by TOFA was associated with decreased levels of hypothalamic malonyl-CoA and decreased mRNA expression of Ucp1 and Ucp3 in BAT (Fig. 5b,c).

Figure 5. Effects of inactivation of hypothalamic de novo lipogenesis.

Figure 5

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(a–d) Body weight change (left panel) and daily food intake (right panel) (a), hypothalamic malonyl-CoA levels (b) and Ucp1 and Ucp3 mRNA in the BAT (c) of hyperthyroid (and euthyroid when indicated) rats treated with vehicle or TOFA. (d–f) Body weight change (left panel) daily food intake (right panel) (d), hypothalamic malonyl-CoA levels (e) and Ucp1 and Ucp3 mRNA and in the BAT (f) of hyperthyroid (and euthyroid when indicated) rats treated with vehicle or AICAR. (g–i) Malonyl-CoA levels in the ventral hypothalamus (g) body weight change (left panel), food intake (right panel) (h) and mRNA expression profiles in BAT (i) of hyperthyroid (or euthyroid when indicated) rats stereotaxically treated with a GFP-expressing adenoviruses or GFP plus AMPK constitutively active (AMPKα-CA) adenoviruses into the VMH. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. vehicle or GFP; ###P < 0.01 hyperthyroid vehicle vs. hyperthyroid TOFA or AICAR and hyperthyroid GFP vs. hyperthyroid AMPKα-CA; all data are expressed as mean ± SEM.

ICV administration of the AMPK activator AICAR showed similar effects on body weight, food intake (Fig. 5d), malonyl-CoA (Fig. 5e) and Ucp1 and Ucp3 expression in BAT (Fig. 5f).

AMPK in the VMH modulates the thermogenic program in BAT

Adenoviruses encoding constitutively active AMPKα-CA 16, were injected stereotaxically into the VMH of hyperthyroid rats as above described. AMPKα-CA reduced malonyl-CoA levels in the ventral hypothalamus (Fig. 5g), which was associated with weight gain in hyperthyroid but not euthyroid rats (Fig. 5h and Supplementary Fig. 7a), although there was no alteration in food intake (Fig. 5h and Supplementary Fig. 7b).

Overexpression of AMPKα-CA in the VMH was associated with a specific reduction in the expression of BAT thermogenic markers in hyperthyroid (Fig. 5i) but not euthyroid rats (Supplementary Fig. 7c,d).

AMPK in the VMH modulates BAT thermogenesis via the SNS

To assess the role of AMPKα in the regulation of energy balance we inactivated hypothalamic AMPK in euthyroid rats. Our data demonstrated that stereotaxic delivery of a dominant-negative AMPKα (AMPKα-DN) 19 into the VMH increased malonyl-CoA levels in the ventral hypothalamus (Fig. 6a) and induced weight lost (Fig. 6b) independently of food intake (Fig. 6c) and neuropeptide expression (Supplementary Fig. 7e).

Figure 6. Effects of selective inactivation of AMPK in the VMH.

Figure 6

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(a–d) Malonyl-CoA levels in the ventral hypothalamus (a), body weight change (b), food intake (c), and mRNA expression profiles in BAT (d) of euthyroid rats stereotaxically treated with a GFP-expressing adenoviruses or GFP plus AMPK dominant negative (AMPKα-DN) into the VMH. (e–g) Body weight change (e), food intake (f), and mRNA expression profiles in BAT (g) of rats stereotaxically treated into the VMH with GFP-expressing adenoviruses SC-treated with vehicle, GFP plus AMPKα-DN SC-treated with vehicle and GFP plus AMPKα-DN SC-treated with the β3-AR specific antagonist SR59230A. (h) Proposed model of the effect of thyroid hormones excess on hypothalamic fatty acid metabolism. Hyperthyroidism and T3 upregulate de novo lipogenesis in the hypothalamus which results from decreased activity of AMPK, activation of ACC and increased expression of Fasn. Thyroid hormone-induced changes in hypothalamic lipid biosynthetic pathway increases levels of hypothalamic malonyl-CoA and complex lipids. These changes are associated with the activation of the SNS through the RPa and the IO, resulting in increased expression of BAT markers, such as Ucp1, Upc3, Ppargc1a (which encodes PGC1α) and Ppargc1b (which encodes PGC1β), promoting negative energy balance and weight loss. *: P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. GFP; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 AMPKα-DN vehicle vs. AMPKα-DN SR59230A; all data are expressed as mean ± SEM.

AMPKα-DN promoted expression of thermogenic markers specifically in BAT (Fig. 6d and Supplementary Fig. 7f,g). Inhibition of β3-AR in BAT by subcutaneous administration of SR59230A 30 reversed AMPKα-DN-induced weight loss and blunted the mRNA expression of BAT thermogenic markers without altering food intake (Fig. 6e–g).

DISCUSSION

This study identifies a homeostatic link between the effects of thyroid hormone on hypothalamic AMPK and activation of BAT by the SNS (Fig. 6h). Hyperthyroidism is a metabolic state characterized by negative energy balance and decreased fat mass 1. There is evidence that impaired expression or activity of enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism in the hypothalamus is associated with changes in neuropeptide expression and corresponding changes in food intake 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 33. Thyroid hormones also modulate lipid metabolism in peripheral tissues 6, 7, 34, 35 8, 15, 36. Therefore, we hypothesized that hyperthyroidism-induced hyperphagia might be mediated by specific alterations in lipid metabolism in the hypothalamus. 8, 14, 15. Here, we show that hyperthyroidism and T3 increase de novo lipogenesis specifically in the hypothalamus but not in other brain regions. These prolipogenic changes in the hypothalamus are mediated by decreased levels and activity of AMPK, which results in activation of ACC and accumulation of malonyl-CoA 37, 38. The pathophysiological relevance of the T3-mediated increase in hypothalamic lipid biosynthesis is intriguing and we speculate that it represents an adaptive allostatic response that helps maintain appropriate levels of structural and signaling lipids in a hypermetabolic state. Alternatively, it might reflect an imbalance between lipid biosynthetic and pro-oxidative pathways 34-36.

Our results indicate that hyperthyroidism induces a hyperphagic response that is accompanied by corresponding changes in the levels of orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides in the hypothalamus. Of interest, the decrease in Pomc expression was associated with decreased levels of the transcription factors pFoxO1 and pSTAT3, which are known to regulate Pomc transcription 39, 40. One of the more puzzling aspects of our data is the resilience of the hyperthyroidism-induced hyperphagia, which is resistant to the known anorectic effects of malonyl-CoA accumulation and inactivation of CPT1 in the hypothalamus. This is observed even after treatment with cerulenin, which inhibits FAS and potentiates the increase in hypothalamic malonyl-CoA. Although the mechanisms by which this occurs are unclear, we speculate that accumulation of specific lipid species in the hypothalamus of hyperthyroid rats might have a role. Moreover, it is possible that, under conditions of elevated energy demand, specific allostatic responses might overrule the usual inhibition of energy intake by malonyl-CoA. In support of this, recent evidence shows that although hypothalamic fatty acid metabolism is important in mediating adaptive feeding responses to fasting 19, 21-23, 26, 41, 42 and acute administration of hormones 16-20, its role in the long-term control of feeding is less clear 43. One possibility is that changes in lipids species in addition to malonyl-CoA, might interfere with the usual mechanisms controlling feeding.

The main finding of our research is the fundamental role of T3 in the CNS, activating the thermogenic program in BAT. Conventionally, this effect has been ascribed to the direct action of T3 on BAT and muscle 1-3, 5. Given that thyroid hormones also exert important effects in the CNS 2, we hypothesized that central T3 action might contribute to whole-body metabolism. In support of this, we demonstrate that genetic inhibition of TR in the VMH reverses the effects of hyperthyroidism on energy balance and the thermogenic program in BAT. Our results also indicate that hyperthyroidism alters hypothalamic AMPK-dependent activation of de novo lipogenesis which results in weight loss via increased energy dissipation in BAT. Conversely, inactivation of hypothalamic fatty acid metabolism reduces activation of BAT and prevents the weight loss associated with hyperthyroidism. To determine the physiological relevance of these observations, we investigated whether selective alteration of fatty acid metabolism in the VMH is sufficient to modulate BAT function 5, 44-46. We demonstrate that inactivation of AMPK in the VMH activates thermogenesis in BAT through the SNS. Indeed, selective genetic ablation of AMPK in the VMH induced weight loss and increased BAT activation without altering feeding. Moreover, changes in mRNA expression in BAT and the decrease in body weight, were reversed by treatment with the selective β3-AR antagonist SR59230A, indicating an essential role of the SNS in these effects. The precise mechanisms linking hypothalamic AMPK activity with sympathetic tone require further investigation. However, our evidence shows that central administration of T3 elicits a marked increase in neuronal activity in the RPa and the IO, nuclei that receive output from the VMH to the intermediolateral neurons and the sympathetic chain, which ultimately innervates BAT 5.

Although, classically, the VMH is considered to be a regulator of feeding control (“the satiety center”), recent evidence reveals a more complex physiological role. For example, AMPK in the VMH is involved in integrating peripheral signals such as ghrelin with the hypothalamic signaling network 19, 33, and in detecting acute hypoglycemia and mounting a counter regulatory glucose response 47. Overall, these data indicate that AMPK acts in the VMH as a “global energy gauge” that modulates both food intake and the thermogenic program. Our data reveal a pathophysiological relevance of this homeostatic regulatory mechanism in the context of hyperthyroidism. Further studies are needed to determine whether this mechanism is restricted to the hyperthyroid state or if it contributes to other pathological states characterized by negative energy balance (e.g. cachexia, wasting diseases). In this sense, recent evidence highlights the importance of BAT in adult humans 48-51, and that thyroid status affects BAT activity 52. The role of AMPK activity and fatty acid metabolism in the hypothalamus in mediating this effect indicates that selective modulation of AMPK activity in this region, and more specifically in the VMH, might be a useful strategy to treat disorders that involve compromised energy balance, such as hyperthyroidism, cachexia and obesity. Similarly, our study indicates that strategies to modulate either AMPK or lipid levels in the hypothalamus might be of therapeutic benefit in controlling the peripheral effects of thyrotoxicosis and life-threatening conditions, such as thyroid storm, for which current treatments are not satisfactory.

In summary, we show that hyperthyroidism inactivates AMPK, induces a marked upregulation of de novo lipogenesis specifically in the hypothalamus and activates the BAT via the SNS, leading to weight loss. Thus, our data indicate that dysregulation of fatty acid metabolism in the hypothalamus is an important effector of hyperthyroidism-induced negative energy balance through its effects on energy dissipation. This observation provides new insights into the pathogenesis of hyperthyroidism-induced effects on energy balance and suggests potential therapeutic strategies to counteract these effects in the context of this disorder or other catabolic states

Supplementary Material

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank to Maria Adams and Andy Whittle (University of Cambridge, UK) for their helpful discussion and editing, Luz Casas and Montserrat Portas (University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain) and Keith Burling (University of Cambridge, UK) for their excellent technical assistance. This work has been supported by grants from the Medical Research Council (A.V-P.: G0802051), Wellcome Trust (K.C.: 080237; A.V-P.: 065326/Z/01/Z), Xunta de Galicia (R.G.: PGIDITPXIB20811PR), Fondo Investigationes Sanitarias (M.L.: PS09/01880), Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (C.D.: BFU2008; M.L.: RyC-2007-00211; R.N.: RyC-2008-02219 and SAF2009-07049), European Union (A.V-P. and M.O.: FP7MITIN; A.V-P. and M.O.: LSHM-CT-2005–018734: “Hepadip”, http://www.hepadip.org; C.D., M.L. and R.N.: Health-F2-2008-223713: “Reprobesity”; M.L.: Marie Curie Program QLK6-CT-2002-51671) and the US National Institutes of Health (A.K.S.: K-19514 and DK-67509; K.R.: HL-084207). CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición is an initiative of ISCIII.

ABBREVIATIONS

3V

third ventricle

ACC

acetyl-CoA carboxylase

α2A-AR

adrenergic receptor alpha 2a; encoded by Adra2a

AgRP

agouti-related protein; encoded by Agrp

AMPK

AMP-activated protein kinase

AMPKα1

AMP-activated protein kinase α1

AMPKα2

AMP-activated protein kinase α2

AMT

aminotriazole

ARC

arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus

β3-AR

adrenergic receptor beta 3; encoded by Adrb3

BAT

brown adipose tissue

CART

cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript; endoded by Cartpt

CNS

central nervous system

CPT1

carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1

D2

type 2 deiodinase, encoded by Dio2

DMH

dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus

DMV

dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus

FAs

fatty acids

FABP3

fatty acid binding protein 3 encoded by Fabp3

FAS

fatty acid synthase, encoded by Fasn

HPRT

hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase, encoded by Hprt

HSL

hormone sensitive lipase; encoded by Lipe

ICV

intracerebroventricular

IO

inferior olive nucleus

LPL

lipoprotein lipase; encoded by Lpl

Malonyl-CoA

malonyl-coenzyme A

NRF-1

nuclear respiratory factor 1; encoded by Nrf1

NPY

neuropeptide Y; encoded by Npy

pACC

phospho-acetyl CoA carboxylase

pAMPK

phospho- AMP-activated protein kinase

pFoxO1

phospho-forkhead box O1

PGC1α

peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator 1 alpha; encoded by Ppargc1a

PGC1β

peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator 1 beta; encoded by Ppargc1b

POMC

proopiomelanocortin; encoded by Pomc

pSTAT3

phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3

PVH

paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus

RPa

raphe pallidus nucleus

RPLP0

ribosomal protein, large, P0; encoded by Rplp0

SC

subcutaneous

SHBG

sex hormone binding globulin; encoded by Shbg

SNA

sympathetic nervous activity

SNS

sympathetic nervous system

T2

diiodothyronine

T3

triiodothyronine

T4

L-thyroxine

TR

thyroid hormone receptor

TSH

thyrotropin

TRH

thyrotropin-releasing hormone; encoded by Trh

UCP1

uncoupling protein 1; encoded by Ucp1

UCP2

uncoupling protein 2

UCP3

uncoupling protein 3; encoded by Ucp3

VMH

ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus

WAT

white adipose tissue

Appendix

METHODS

Animals

We used adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (9–11 weeks old). For all the experimental groups and analytic methods, we used 9–12 rats per group as a minimum. All the experiments were repeated at least twice (Supplementary Methods). University of Santiago de Compostela and University of Iowa Animal Research Committees approved all procedures. All studies were conducted in accordance with the International Law on Animal Experimentation and National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

Induction of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism

We induced hyperthyroidism by chronic subcutaneous (SC) administration of T4 (100 μg day−1, dissolved in 200 μl of saline) for a period of three weeks (21 d). We induced hypothyroidism by administration of 0.1% aminotriazole in drinking water for three weeks. All drugs were from Sigma.

ICV treatments

For the chronic experiments, we gave rats either a single ICV daily administration of triiodothyronine (T3; 4 ng during 4 d, dissolved in 5 μl of DMSO) or the drugs acting on fatty acid synthesis pathway, namely cerulenin, AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-D-ribofuranoside), TOFA (5-(tetradecyloxy)-2-furoic acid) (10 μg, 5 μg and 5 μg per rat, respectively, dissolved in 5 μl of DMSO) or vehicle (5 μl DMSO) at 20:00, just before turning the light off during 4 d. For the acute (1–6 h) experiments rats received a single dose of T3 (4 ng, dissolved in 5 μl of DMSO). All drugs were from Sigma.

Stereotaxic microinjection of adenoviral expression vectors and T3

We targeted the VMH bilaterally as previously reported 19 and administered adenovirus vectors (GFP, TR-DN, AMPKα-CA or AMPKα-DN) or T3 (0.4 ng per 100 nl of DMSO) or vehicle (100 nl of DMSO) as described (Supplementary Methods).

Peripheral treatments

We administered T2 was subcutaneously (SC; 100 μg per day, dissolved in 200 μl of saline; Sigma) and T3 intraperitoneally (IP; 4 ng, dissolved in 200 μl of saline) during 4 d. The beta adrenergic receptor 3 (β3-AR) specific antagonist SR59230A ([3-(2-ethylphenoxy)-1-[(1,S)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronapth-1-ylamino]-2S-2-propanol oxalate])30 (2 mg kg−1 day−1) was administrated by using osmotic minipumps (model 2001D or 2ML2, Alza Corp) as previously reported 43. We treated animals during 2 d before the T3 or the adenoviral injection. The selected dose of SR59230A was that able to reverse the 24-h-induced Ucp1 mRNA expression in BAT (Ucp1 mRNA/Hprt (% vehicle at room temperature), vehicle at room temperature: 100 ± 12.75 vs. vehicle at 4°C: 550.2 ± 155.5 (P<0.05) vs. SR59230A at 4°C: 127.2 ± 11.1 (P<0.05 vs. vehicle at 4°C)).

Sympathetic nerve activity recording

We obtained multi-fiber recording of SNA from the nerve subserving BAT, as previously described (Supplementary Methods)53, 54.

Analytical methods

Real-time RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, western blotting, immunohistochemistry and enzymatic and malonyl-CoA assays were performed as previously described 19, 26, 27, 33, 54.

Statistical analysis

Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Statistic significance was determined by t-Student or ANOVA followed of post-hoc two-tailed Bonferroni test. P<0.05 was considered significant.

Footnotes

COMPETING INTERESTS STATEMENT

The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

C.L. is an employee of AstraZeneca R&D and holds stock in AstraZeneca R&D.

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Supplementary Materials

1
NIHMS227316-supplement-1.doc (43.5KB, doc)
2
NIHMS227316-supplement-2.pdf (2.3MB, pdf)

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