Endothelial peroxynitrite causes disturbance of neuronal oscillations by targeting caspase-1 in the arcuate nucleus

Severe anorexia limits the clinical application of cisplatin, and even leads to the discontinuation of treatment. However, the mechanisms underlying cisplatin-induced anorexia are unknown. Herein, we demonstrated that cisplatin could affect neuronal gamma oscillations and induce abnormal neuronal theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling in the arcuate nucleus (Arc) of the hypothalamus, and these findings were associated with significantly decreased food intake and weight loss in mice. Chemogenetic activation of AgRP neurons in the Arc reversed the cisplatin-induced food intake reduction in mice. We further demonstrated that endothelial peroxynitrite (ONOO-) formation in the Arc induced nitrosative stress following cisplatin treatment via a previously uncharacterized pathway involving neuronal caspase-1 activation. Strikingly, treatment with the ONOOscavenger uric acid (UA) reversed the reduced action potential (AP) frequency of AgRP neurons and increased the AP frequency of POMC neurons induced by SIN1, a donor of ONOO-, in the Arc, as determined by whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiological recording. Consistent with these findings, UA treatment effectively alleviated cisplatin-induced dysfunction of neuronal oscillations and neuronal theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling in the Arc of mice. Taken together, these results suggest, for the first time, that targeting the overproduction of endothelial ONOO- can regulate cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity through neuronal caspase-1, and thereby serve as a potential therapeutic approach to alleviate chemotherapy-induced anorexia and weight loss.

Automated summary

Severe anorexia caused by cisplatin treatment is associated with abnormal neuronal oscillations and phase-amplitude coupling in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. Targeting endothelial peroxynitrite overproduction through neuronal caspase-1 activation may offer a potential therapeutic approach to alleviate chemotherapy-induced anorexia and weight loss.