QPLOT Neurons—Converging on a Thermoregulatory Preoptic Neuronal Population

Frontiers in Neuroscience

Richard A. Lang¹  Brian A. Upton⁴  Shane P. D’Souza⁵ 

[1] Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States;Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States;Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Center for Chronobiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States;Medical Scientist Training Program, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States;Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States;The Visual Systems Group, Abrahamson Pediatric Eye Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States;

关键词: QRFP;    PTGER3;    Leptin receptor;    Opn5;    Tacr3;    thermoregulation;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fnins.2021.665762

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The preoptic area of the hypothalamus is a homeostatic control center. The heterogeneous neurons in this nucleus function to regulate the sleep/wake cycle, reproduction, thirst and hydration, as well as thermogenesis and other metabolic responses. Several recent studies have analyzed preoptic neuronal populations and demonstrated neuronal subtype-specific roles in suppression of thermogenesis. These studies showed similar thermogenesis responses to chemogenetic modulation, and similar synaptic tracing patterns for neurons that were responsive to cold, to inflammatory stimuli, and to violet light. A reanalysis of single-cell/nucleus RNA-sequencing datasets of the preoptic nucleus indicate that these studies have converged on a common neuronal population that when activated, are sufficient to suppress thermogenesis. Expanding on a previous name for these neurons (Q neurons, which reflect their ability to promote quiescence and expression of Qrfp), we propose a new name: QPLOT neurons, to reflect numerous molecular markers of this population and to capture its broader roles in metabolic regulation. Here, we summarize previous findings on this population and present a unified description of QPLOT neurons, the excitatory preoptic neuronal population that integrate a variety of thermal, metabolic, hormonal and environmental stimuli in order to regulate metabolism and thermogenesis.

【 授权许可】

Unknown