SIRT1 in the central nervous system regulates food preference

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K19504
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Metabolomics
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: Matsui Sho 群馬大学, 生体調節研究所, 研究員 (80739673)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: SIRT1 / Tyrosine hydroxylase / オキシトシン / 脂質 / 炭水化物 / 食餌嗜好性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to address the role of SIRT1 in the food preference regulation, we either over-expressed or knocked-out SIRT1 in all neurons by crossing Tau-Cre mice with either Rosa26-Sirt1 mice or Sirt1-flox mice, and measured their food preference. SIRT1 overexpression increased preference for high-fat diet, whereas SIRT1 knock-out increased preference for high-sucrose diet. Expression analysis of hypothalamus of these mice revealed that SIRT1 overexpression suppressed the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) and increased the expression of oxytocin (Oxt). Next, we either overexpressed or knocked-down SIRT1 in hypothalamic cells and checked the effect on the expressions of Th and Oxt. We found that SIRT1 regulates the expression of these genes accordingly. Dopamine system promotes preference for fat, whereas Oxt suppresses preference for carbohydrate. Therefore, the neuronal SIRT1 may regulate food preference through the modulation of dopamine and Oxt system.

Free Research Field

分子栄養学