Identification and differential expression analysis of microRNAs in the liver and spleen tissues of Yunnan Zebu and Holstein cattle.

Extensive research has shown that miRNAs play a crucial role in regulating biological processes within organisms. This study analyzed miRNAs differentially expressed and potentially associated with immune function and tissue-specific expression in Yunnan Zebu and Holstein cattle. To achieve this, 20 liver and spleen tissue samples from the two cattle breeds were collected for high-throughput miRNA sequencing, with the liver tissue as a reference.

Altered thermal preference by preoptic estrogen receptor alpha neurons in postpartum females.

Objective: This study aims to investigate how reproductive experience (RE) alters thermal preference and thermoregulation in female mice, with a focus on estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-expressing neurons in the preoptic area (POA).

Methods: Thermal preference and body temperature were measured in female mice with and without RE, and virgin female mice with selective deletion of ERα from the POA (ERα-KO). The number and activity of ERα-expressing POA neurons (ERα) were assessed using immunohistochemistry and in vitro electrophysiology in response to temperature changes and ERα agonist.

Serotonin neurons integrate GABA and dopamine inputs to regulate meal initiation.

Obesity is a growing global health epidemic with limited orally administered therapeutics. Serotonin (5-HT) is one neurotransmitter which remains an excellent target for new weight-loss therapies, but a gap remains in understanding the mechanisms involved in 5-HT produced in the dorsal Raphe nucleus (DRN) and its involvement in meal initiation. Using an optogenetic feeding paradigm, we showed that the 5-HT➔arcuate nucleus (ARH) circuit plays a role in meal initiation.

Identification of an ionic mechanism for ERα-mediated rapid excitation in neurons.

The major female ovarian hormone, 17β-estradiol (E), can alter neuronal excitability within milliseconds to regulate a variety of physiological processes. Estrogen receptor-α (ERα), classically known as a nuclear receptor, exists as a membrane-bound receptor to mediate this rapid action of E, but the ionic mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that a membrane channel protein, chloride intracellular channel protein-1 (Clic1), can physically interact with ERα with a preference to the membrane-bound ERα.

Distinct basal forebrain-originated neural circuits promote homoeostatic feeding and suppress hedonic feeding in male mice.

Feeding behaviour is influenced by two primary factors: homoeostatic needs driven by hunger and hedonic desires for pleasure even in the absence of hunger. While efficient homoeostatic feeding is vital for survival, excessive hedonic feeding can lead to adverse consequences such as obesity and metabolic dysregulations. However, the neurobiological mechanisms that orchestrate homoeostatic versus hedonic food consumption remain largely unknown.

Loss of transient receptor potential channel 5 causes obesity and postpartum depression.

Hypothalamic neural circuits regulate instinctive behaviors such as food seeking, the fight/flight response, socialization, and maternal care. Here, we identified microdeletions on chromosome Xq23 disrupting the brain-expressed transient receptor potential (TRP) channel 5 (TRPC5). This family of channels detects sensory stimuli and converts them into electrical signals interpretable by the brain.

Neural circuits expressing the serotonin 2C receptor regulate memory in mice and humans.

Declined memory is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Experiments in rodents and human postmortem studies suggest that serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) plays a role in memory, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Here, we investigate the role of 5-HT 2C receptor (5-HTR) in regulating memory.

A Light-Responsive Neural Circuit Suppresses Feeding.

Light plays an essential role in a variety of physiological processes, including vision, mood, and glucose homeostasis. However, the intricate relationship between light and an animal's feeding behavior has remained elusive. Here, we found that light exposure suppresses food intake, whereas darkness amplifies it in male mice.

5-HT Neurons Integrate GABA and Dopamine Inputs to Regulate Meal Initiation.

Obesity is a growing global health epidemic with limited effective therapeutics. Serotonin (5-HT) is one major neurotransmitter which remains an excellent target for new weight-loss therapies, but there remains a gap in knowledge on the mechanisms involved in 5-HT produced in the dorsal Raphe nucleus (DRN) and its involvement in meal initiation. Using a closed-loop optogenetic feeding paradigm, we showed that the 5-HT→arcuate nucleus (ARH) circuit plays an important role in regulating meal initiation.

Anoctamin 4 channel currents activate glucose-inhibited neurons in the mouse ventromedial hypothalamus during hypoglycemia.

Glucose is the basic fuel essential for maintenance of viability and functionality of all cells. However, some neurons - namely, glucose-inhibited (GI) neurons - paradoxically increase their firing activity in low-glucose conditions and decrease that activity in high-glucose conditions. The ionic mechanisms mediating electric responses of GI neurons to glucose fluctuations remain unclear.

Asprosin promotes feeding through SK channel-dependent activation of AgRP neurons.

Asprosin, a recently identified adipokine, activates agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH) via binding to protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor δ (Ptprd) to increase food intake. However, the intracellular mechanisms responsible for asprosin/Ptprd-mediated activation of AgRP neurons remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the small-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channel is required for the stimulatory effects of asprosin/Ptprd on AgRP neurons.

Hypothalamic Grb10 enhances leptin signalling and promotes weight loss.

Leptin acts on hypothalamic neurons expressing agouti-related protein (AgRP) or pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) to suppress appetite and increase energy expenditure, but the intracellular mechanisms that modulate central leptin signalling are not fully understood. Here we show that growth factor receptor-bound protein 10 (Grb10), an adaptor protein that binds to the insulin receptor and negatively regulates its signalling pathway, can interact with the leptin receptor and enhance leptin signalling. Ablation of Grb10 in AgRP neurons promotes weight gain, while overexpression of Grb10 in AgRP neurons reduces body weight in male and female mice.

Human loss-of-function variants in the serotonin 2C receptor associated with obesity and maladaptive behavior.

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors and receptor agonists are used to treat obesity, anxiety and depression. Here we studied the role of the serotonin 2C receptor (5-HTR) in weight regulation and behavior. Using exome sequencing of 2,548 people with severe obesity and 1,117 control individuals without obesity, we identified 13 rare variants in the gene encoding 5-HTR (HTR2C) in 19 unrelated people (3 males and 16 females).

SK3 in POMC neurons plays a sexually dimorphic role in energy and glucose homeostasis.

Background: Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons play a sexually dimorphic role in body weight and glucose balance. However, the mechanisms for the sex differences in POMC neuron functions are not fully understood.

Results: We detected small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) current in POMC neurons.

Gabra5 plays a sexually dimorphic role in POMC neuron activity and glucose balance.

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons are important for the regulation of body weight and glucose balance. The inhibitory tone to POMC neurons is mediated primarily by the GABA receptors. However, the detailed mechanisms and functions of GABA receptors are not well understood.

A case of multiple nodular cutaneous B-cell pseudolymphoma successfully treated with glucocorticoid, methotrexate, and hydroxychloroquine.

Cutaneous pseudolymphomas (CPL) is a group of benign, reactive, and polyclonal lymphoproliferative dermatoses that simulate cutaneous lymphomas (CL) clinically and histologically. Based on the predominating component of lymphocytic infiltrate, CPL can be divided into cutaneous B-cell pseudolymphomas (CBPL), cutaneous T-cell pseudolymphomas (CTPL), mixed (T-/B-cell) pseudolymphomas, CD30-positive pseudolymphomas, and non-classifiable pseudolymphomas. Most patients with localized nodular CBPL present with a solitary nodule.

A D2 to D1 shift in dopaminergic inputs to midbrain 5-HT neurons causes anorexia in mice.

Midbrain dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) neurons regulate motivated behaviors, including feeding, but less is known about how these circuits may interact. In this study, we found that DA neurons in the mouse ventral tegmental area bidirectionally regulate the activity of 5-HT neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), with weaker stimulation causing DRD2-dependent inhibition and overeating, while stronger stimulation causing DRD1-dependent activation and anorexia. Furthermore, in the activity-based anorexia (ABA) paradigm, which is a mouse model mimicking some clinical features of human anorexia nervosa (AN), we observed a DRD2 to DRD1 shift of DA neurotransmission on 5-HT neurons, which causes constant activation of these neurons and contributes to AN-like behaviors.

Hypothalamic steroid receptor coactivator-2 regulates adaptations to fasting and overnutrition.

The neuroendocrine system coordinates metabolic and behavioral adaptations to fasting, including reducing energy expenditure, promoting counterregulation, and suppressing satiation and anxiety to engage refeeding. Here, we show that steroid receptor coactivator-2 (SRC-2) in pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons is a key regulator of all these responses to fasting. POMC-specific deletion of SRC-2 enhances the basal excitability of POMC neurons; mutant mice fail to efficiently suppress energy expenditure during food deprivation.

Prospective study of clinical characteristics of melanoma patients with retinopathy caused by a high-dose interferon α-2b.

Retinopathy is a rare side effect of interferon α-2b treatment. The goal of this study was to prospectively investigate the clinical characteristics of Chinese patients with melanomas who developed retinopathy following high doses of interferon α-2b (HD-IFN) therapy. The study included 56 melanoma stage I-III patients that were treated with HD-IFN.

Hypothalamic Perineuronal Nets Are Regulated by Sex and Dietary Interventions.

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are widely present in the hypothalamus, and are thought to provide physical protection and ion buffering for neurons and regulate their synaptic plasticity and intracellular signaling. Recent evidence indicates that PNNs in the mediobasal hypothalamus play an important role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. However, whether and how hypothalamic PNNs are regulated are not fully understood.

Acral multiple symmetrical palisaded encapsulated neuromas: A rare case report and review of the literature.

Palisaded encapsulated neuroma (PEN) is a benign neoplasm composed of nerve tissue. It typically presents as isolated, asymptomatic, skin-colored papules or nodules on the face, neck, or oral mucosa of the middle-aged and elderly. Here, we reported a very unusual and unique case of acral multiple symmetrical PENs with no obvious systemic abnormalities and reviewed the published work on acral PEN.

5-HT recruits distinct neurocircuits to inhibit hunger-driven and non-hunger-driven feeding.

Obesity is primarily a consequence of consuming calories beyond energetic requirements, but underpinning drivers have not been fully defined. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neurons in the dorsal Raphe nucleus (5-HT) regulate different types of feeding behavior, such as eating to cope with hunger or for pleasure. Here, we observed that activation of 5-HT to hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (5-HT → ARH) projections inhibits food intake driven by hunger via actions at ARH 5-HT and 5-HT receptors, whereas activation of 5-HT to ventral tegmental area (5-HT → VTA) projections inhibits non-hunger-driven feeding via actions at 5-HT receptors.

AgRP neurons trigger long-term potentiation and facilitate food seeking.

Sufficient feeding is essential for animals' survival, which requires a cognitive capability to facilitate food seeking, but the neurobiological processes regulating food seeking are not fully understood. Here we show that stimulation of agouti-related peptide-expressing (AgRP) neurons triggers a long-term depression (LTD) of spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic current (sEPSC) in adjacent pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons and in most of their distant synaptic targets, including neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT). The AgRP-induced sEPCS LTD can be enhanced by fasting but blunted by satiety signals, e.