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The BBSome: a nexus controlling energy metabolism in the brain
Sandra Blaess, Dagmar Wachten
Sandra Blaess, Dagmar Wachten
Published April 15, 2021
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2021;131(8):e148903. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI148903.
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Commentary

The BBSome: a nexus controlling energy metabolism in the brain

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Abstract

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a syndromic ciliopathy that has obesity as a cardinal feature. BBS is caused by mutations in BBS genes. BBS proteins control primary cilia function, and BBS mutations therefore lead to dysfunctional primary cilia. Obesity in patients with BBS is mainly caused by hyperphagia due to dysregulated neuronal function in the brain, in particular in the hypothalamus. However, the mechanism by which mutations in BBS genes result in dysfunction in hypothalamic neurons is not well understood. In this issue of the JCI, Wang et al. used BBS and non-BBS patient–derived induced pluripotent stem cells to generate neurons and hypothalamic neurons. Using this human model system, the authors demonstrated that mutations in BBS genes affected primary cilia function, neuronal morphology, and signaling pathways regulating the function of hypothalamic neurons, which control energy homeostasis. This study provides important insights into the mechanisms of BBS-induced obesity.

Authors

Sandra Blaess, Dagmar Wachten

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Figure 1

Bardet-Biedl syndrome proteins control primary cilia function in hypothalamic neurons.

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Bardet-Biedl syndrome proteins control primary cilia function in hypotha...
(A) In the brain, the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus is central for controlling energy homeostasis in the body. Here, the interplay of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and Agouti-related protein (AgRP) neurons, which require primary cilia for their normal function, regulates food intake. (B) Primary cilia originate from the basal body, a modified mother centriole, which is part of the centrosome. The basal body serves as a nucleation site for microtubules, which form the core structure of all cilia, the axoneme. Along the axoneme, the intraflagellar transport (IFT) machinery transports proteins anterogradely to the ciliary tip or retrogradely to the ciliary base via the molecular motors kinesin-2 and dynein-2, respectively. The transition zone at the ciliary base prevents free diffusion of proteins from the cell body into the cilium. The BBSome is a central component, which, together with the IFT, regulates the protein content in the cilium. (C) Wang et al. (14) differentiated generic neurons as well as POMC and AgRP neurons from BBS and non-BBS patient–derived iPSCs (via fibroblasts). Using this human in vitro system, the authors uncovered the effect of mutations in BBSome-encoding genes on neuronal differentiation and on the central signaling pathways regulating the function of POMC and AgRP neurons in energy homeostasis. Arrows indicate decrease or increase. Note that some aspects were only investigated in cells with BBS1 (blue arrows) or BBS10 (red arrows) mutations.

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ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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