[HTML][HTML] Obesity-associated hyperleptinemia alters the gliovascular interface of the hypothalamus to promote hypertension

T Gruber, C Pan, RE Contreras, T Wiedemann…�- Cell metabolism, 2021 - cell.com
T Gruber, C Pan, RE Contreras, T Wiedemann, DA Morgan, AA Skowronski, S Lefort…
Cell metabolism, 2021cell.com
Pathologies of the micro-and macrovascular systems are a hallmark of the metabolic
syndrome, which can lead to chronically elevated blood pressure. However, the underlying
pathomechanisms involved still need to be clarified. Here, we report that an obesity-
associated increase in serum leptin triggers the select expansion of the micro-
angioarchitecture in pre-autonomic brain centers that regulate hemodynamic homeostasis.
By using a series of cell-and region-specific loss-and gain-of-function models, we show that�…
Summary
Pathologies of the micro- and macrovascular systems are a hallmark of the metabolic syndrome, which can lead to chronically elevated blood pressure. However, the underlying pathomechanisms involved still need to be clarified. Here, we report that an obesity-associated increase in serum leptin triggers the select expansion of the micro-angioarchitecture in pre-autonomic brain centers that regulate hemodynamic homeostasis. By using a series of cell- and region-specific loss- and gain-of-function models, we show that this pathophysiological process depends on hypothalamic astroglial hypoxia-inducible factor 1α-vascular endothelial growth factor (HIF1α-VEGF) signaling downstream of leptin signaling. Importantly, several distinct models of HIF1α-VEGF pathway disruption in astrocytes are protected not only from obesity-induced hypothalamic angiopathy but also from sympathetic hyperactivity or arterial hypertension. These results suggest that hyperleptinemia promotes obesity-induced hypertension via a HIF1α-VEGF signaling cascade in hypothalamic astrocytes while establishing a novel mechanistic link that connects hypothalamic micro-angioarchitecture with control over systemic blood pressure.
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