Monitoring FoxO1 localization in chemically identified neurons

Makoto Fukuda, Juli E. Jones, David Olson, Jennifer Hill, Charlotte E. Lee, Laurent Gautron, Michelle Choi, Jeffrey M. Zigman, Bradford B. Lowell, Joel K. Elmquist

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

59 Scopus citations

Abstract

The PI3K-Akt-FoxO1 pathway contributes to the actions of insulin and leptin in several cell types, including neurons in the CNS. However, identifying these actions in chemically identified neurons has proven difficult. To address this problem, we have developed a reporter mouse for monitoring PI3K-Akt signaling in specific populations of neurons, based on FoxO1 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. The reporter, FoxO1 fused to green fluorescent protein (FoxO1GFP), is expressed under the control of a ubiquitous promoter that is silenced by a loxP flanked transcriptional blocker. Thus, the expression of the reporter in selected cells is dependent on the action of Cre recombinase. Using this model, we found that insulin treatment resulted in the nuclear exclusion of FoxO1GFP within POMC and AgRP neurons in a dose- and time-dependent manner. FoxO1GFP nuclear exclusion was also observed in POMC neurons following in vivo administration of insulin. In addition, leptin induced transient nuclear export of FoxO1GFP in POMC neurons in a dose dependent manner. Finally, insulin-induced nuclear export was impaired in POMC neurons by pretreatment with free fatty acids, a paradigm known to induce insulin resistance in peripheral insulin target tissues. Thus, our FoxO1GFP mouse provides a tool for monitoring the status of PI3K-Akt signaling in a cell-specific manner under physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)13640-13648
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume28
Issue number50
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 10 2008

Keywords

  • AgRP neurons
  • FoxO1
  • Free fatty acids
  • Insulin
  • Insulin resistance
  • POMC neurons

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Monitoring FoxO1 localization in chemically identified neurons'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this