Small extracellular vesicle targeting of hypothalamic AMPKα1 promotes weight loss in leptin receptor deficient mice

Abstract

Background and aims: Leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency promotes severe obesity and metabolic disorders. However, the current therapeutic options against this syndrome are scarce. Methods: db/db mice and their wildtypes were systemically treated with neuronal-targeted small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) harboring a plasmid encoding a dominant negative mutant of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha 1 (AMPKα1-DN) driven by steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) promoter; this approach allowed to modulate AMPK activity, specifically in SF1 cells of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH). Animals were metabolically phenotyped. Results: db/db mice intravenously injected with SF1-AMPKα1-DN loaded sEVs showed a marked feeding-independent weight loss and decreased adiposity, associated with increased sympathetic tone, brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis and browning of white adipose tissue (WAT). Conclusion: Overall, this evidence indicates that specific modulation of hypothalamic AMPK using a sEV-based technology may be a suitable strategy against genetic forms of obesity, such as LEPR deficiency.