Elevation of hypothalamic ketone bodies induces a decrease in energy expenditures and an increase risk of metabolic disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Ketone bodies (such as β-hydroxybutyrate or BHB) have been recently proposed as signals involved in brain regulation of energy homeostasis and obesity development. However, the precise role of ketone bodies sensing by the brain, and its impact on metabolic disorder development remains unclear. Nevertheless, partial deletion of the ubiquitous ketone bodies transporter MCT1 in mice (HE mice) results in diet-induced obesity resistance, while there is no alteration under normal chow diet. These results suggest that ketone bodies produced during the high fat diet would be important signals involved in obesity onset.

METHODS: In the present study we used a specific BHB infusion of the hypothalamus and analyzed the energy homeostasis of WT or HE mice fed a normal chow diet.

RESULTS: Our results indicate that high BHB levels sensed by the hypothalamus disrupt the brain regulation of energy homeostasis. This brain control dysregulation leads to peripheral alterations of energy expenditure mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, the changes induced by high ketone bodies levels sensed by the brain increase the risk of obesity onset in mice.