The gut microbiota regulates hypothalamic inflammation and leptin sensitivity in Western diet-fed mice via a GLP-1R-dependent mechanism

Mice lacking a microbiota are protected from diet-induced obesity. Previous studies have shown that feeding a Western diet causes hypothalamic inflammation, which in turn can lead to leptin resistance and weight gain. Here, we show that wild-type (WT) mice with depleted gut microbiota, i.e., germ-free (GF) and antibiotic-treated mice, have elevated levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), are protected against diet-induced hypothalamic inflammation, and have enhanced leptin sensitivity when fed a Western diet. Using GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R)-deficient mice and pharmacological inhibition of the GLP-1R in WT mice, we demonstrate that intact GLP-1R signaling is required for preventing hypothalamic inflammation and enhancing leptin sensitivity. Furthermore, we show that astrocytes express the GLP-1R, and deletion of the receptor in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-expressing cells diminished the antibiotic-induced protection against diet-induced hypothalamic inflammation. Collectively, our results suggest that depletion of the gut microbiota attenuates diet-induced hypothalamic inflammation and enhances leptin sensitivity via GLP-1R-dependent mechanisms. [Display omitted] •Microbiota-depleted mice are protected from diet-induced hypothalamic inflammation•Plasma GLP-1 levels are elevated in microbiota-depleted mice•Inhibition of GLP-1R diminishes the protection against hypothalamic inflammation•Astrocytes express GLP-1R, and GLP-1R deletion in GFAP+ cells reduces protection Feeding a Western diet leads to hypothalamic inflammation, which has been implicated in leptin resistance and weight gain. Heiss et al. show that depletion of the gut microbiota attenuates diet-induced hypothalamic inflammation and enhances leptin sensitivity. Deletion or inhibition of GLP-1R diminishes the protection against diet-induced hypothalamic inflammation.