Linda Engström Ruud, Ferran Font-Gironès, Joanna Zajdel, Lara Kern, Júlia Teixidor-Deulofeu, Louise Mannerås-Holm, Alba Carreras, Barbara Becattini, Andreas Björefeldt, Eric Hanse, Henning Fenselau, Giovanni Solinas, Jens C Brüning, Thomas F Wunderlich, Fredrik Bäckhed, Johan Ruud
GFRAL-expressing neurons actuate aversion and nausea, are targets for obesity treatment, and may mediate metformin effects by long-term GDF15-GFRAL agonism. Whether GFRAL+ neurons acutely regulate glucose and energy homeostasis is, however, underexplored. Here, we report that cell-specific activation of GFRAL+ neurons using a variety of techniques causes a torpor-like state, including hypothermia, the release of stress hormones, a shift from glucose to lipid oxidation, and impaired insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, and skeletal muscle glucose uptake but augmented glucose uptake in visceral fat...
March 19, 2024: Cell Reports