Anoctamin 4 channel currents activate glucose-inhibited neurons in the mouse ventromedial hypothalamus during hypoglycemia

Glucose is the basic fuel essential for maintenance of viability and functionality of all cells. However, some neurons — namely, glucose-inhibited (GI) neurons — paradoxically increase their firing activity in low-glucose conditions and decrease that activity in high-glucose conditions. The ionic mechanisms mediating electric responses of GI neurons to glucose fluctuations remain unclear. Here, we showed that currents mediated by the anoctamin 4 (Ano4) channel are only detected in GI neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) and are functionally required for their activation in response to low glucose. Genetic disruption of the Ano4 gene in VMH neurons reduced blood glucose and impaired counterregulatory responses during hypoglycemia in mice. Activation of VMH(Ano4) neurons increased food intake and blood glucose, while chronic inhibition of VMH(Ano4) neurons ameliorated hyperglycemia in a type 1 diabetic mouse model. Finally, we showed that VMH(Ano4) neurons represent a unique orexigenic VMH population and transmit a positive valence, while stimulation of neurons that do not express Ano4 in the VMH (VMH(non-Ano4)) suppress feeding and transmit a negative valence. Together, our results indicate that the Ano4 channel and VMH(Ano4) neurons are potential therapeutic targets for human diseases with abnormal feeding behavior or glucose imbalance.