Nick Betley: A Few Neurons at the Bottom of the Brain Control Pain, Inflammation, and Endurance

Interoception is a term used to describe the processes by which the brain detects, interprets, and responds adaptively to signals (pain, hunger, fatigue, etc.) coming from various organs in the body. In this episode University of Pennsylvania neuroscientist Nick Betley talks about recent research that has revealed key roles for relatively small numbers of neurons in the hypothalamus in interoception. Using cutting-edge imaging and molecular genetic tools Betley and his colleagues have shown how specific hypothalamic neurons can turn off pain signals and suppress inflammation. These findings have important implications for the development of interventions that alleviate chronic pain Intriguingly, they recently discovered that activation of a group of hypothalamic neurons (SF1 neurons) occurs in response exercise and their activation is required for endurance to increase with training. These findings suggest enhancement of hypothalamic SF1 neuron activity might prevent muscle loss during aging or in certain diseases or physical disabilities.

LINKS Betley laboratory page:

https://web.sas.upenn.edu/betley-lab/

Exercise-induced activation of ventromedial hypothalamic steroidogenic factor-1 neurons mediates improvements in endurance.

https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0896-6273%2825%2900989-4

Anti-inflammatory effects of hunger are transmitted to the periphery via projection-specific AgRP circuits.

https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2211-1247%2823%2901350-5

A Neural Circuit for the Suppression of Pain by a Competing Need State.

https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0092-8674%2818%2930234-4