ISSN 1662-4009 (online)

ey0021.11-12 | Brain Development and Brain Function | ESPEYB21

11.12. Age-related ciliopathy: obesogenic shortening of melanocortin-4 receptor-bearing neuronal primary cilia

M Oya , Y Miyasaka , Y Nakamura , M Tanaka , T Suganami , T Mashimo , K Nakamura

Brief Summary: This study describes how the primary cilia of hypothalamic neurons bearing melanocortin-4 receptors (MC4R) progressively shorten with age, leading to reduced sensitivity to satiety signals, increased appetite, and obesity. This age-related ciliary shortening is exacerbated by chronic leptin-melanocortin signalling, but can be mitigated by dietary restriction or knockdown of ciliogenesis-associated kinase 1 (CILK1). These findings suggest potential therapeutic ap...