Characterization of the Expression and Function of Chemerin and CMKLR1 within the Central Nervous System

Abstract

Adipose derived signaling molecules (adipokines) play a crucial role in regulating satiety, metabolic homeostasis and body weight via endocrine actions in the CNS. We have identified a novel adipokine, chemerin, which regulates adipogenesis and adipose metabolism through actions on the chemokine‐like receptor 1 (CMKLR1). In the present study the neurological localization of chemerin and CMKLR1 mRNA was determined by dissecting mouse brains into cortex, brain stem, hypothalamus and pituitary. Similar levels of CMKLR1 mRNA expression were detected in each of the brain regions. Conversely, chemerin mRNA expression was enriched in the pituitary. Expression of both genes was significantly reduced in hypothalamus and pituitary of obese (Ob/Ob) mice. In vitro studies confirmed CMKLR1 and chemerin co‐expression in mouse hypothalamus and pituitary cell lines. Immunofluorescence corroborates this data identifying CMKLR1 expression on the hypothalamic cell membrane. These findings suggest that chemerin and CMKLR1 may represent a novel endocrine pathway that is functionally important in the brain centers that regulate feeding and metabolism. Funding: CIHR, NSHRF, DMRF, DPEF