GPR75 in glutamatergic neurons regulates body weight

The G-protein-coupled receptor 75 (GPR75) emerged as a promising therapeutic target for treating diet-induced obesity (DIO). Loss-of-function mutations of GPR75 in humans are associated with reduced body mass index (BMI). Also, Gpr75 -deficient mice are protected from DIO. Here, we generated genetically modified mice that enable us to selectively delete or reactivate Gpr75 in a Cre-dependent manner. Loss of Gpr75 in vGlut2+ glutamatergic neurons ( Gpr75 vGlut2-KO ) results in protection against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced weight gain, whereas loss of Gpr75 in GABAergic neurons shows no protection against DIO. Furthermore, male Gpr75 vGlut2-KO mice have reduced food intake on HFD without a change in energy expenditure. Reactivation of Gpr75 only in vGlut2-expressing cells in a Gpr75 null mouse ( Gpr75 TB ) completely rescues the HFD-induced weight gain, whereas reactivation in GABAergic cells has no effect on body weight or adiposity. These complementary results demonstrate the importance of glutamatergic neurons in GPR75’s regulation of food intake and protection from obesity. • Removal of Gpr75 from glutamatergic neurons protects against obesity in mice • Gpr75 acts in glutamatergic neurons to control food intake on a high-fat diet • Restoring Gpr75 in glutamatergic neurons restores the obesogenic effects of a high-fat diet Wyler, S.C. et al. identify a critical neuronal population that is required for GPR75 to exert its obesogenic effects using targeted deletion and reactivation of Gpr75 in glutamatergic neurons.