SAT649 Org43553, The First Low-molecular-weight Agonist Of The Human Luteinizing Hormone Receptor Induces Leanness And Energy Expenditure In Mice
Authors: Lizneva Daria , Gumerova Anisa , Ievleva Kseniia , Barak Orly , Korkmaz Funda , Roig Judit Gimenez , Frolinger Tal , Pevnev Georgii , Sultana Farhath , Kramskiy Natan , Wizman Soleil , Orloff Michelle , Pallapati Anusha Rani , Rojekar Satish , Ryu Vitaly , Moldavski Ofer , Yuen Tony , Zaidi Mone 
Published: October 2023

Disclosure: D. Lizneva: None. A. Gumerova: None. K. Ievleva: None. O. Barak: None. F. Korkmaz: None. J. Gimenez Roig: None. T. Frolinger: None. G. Pevnev: None. F. Sultana: None. N. Kramskiy: None. S. Wizman: None. M. Orloff: None. A.R. Pallapati: None. S. Rojekar: None. V. Ryu: None. O. Moldavski: None. T. Yuen: None. M. Zaidi: None.

We provide compelling evidence that LH is a pro–lean hormone, and that ORG43553, the first low-molecular-weight agonist of the luteinizing hormone receptor (LHCGR) induces leanness and promotes energy expenditure in mice. We detected Lhcgr transcripts in white adipose tissue (WAT) depots in male and female C57BL/6 mice (qPCR, IHC, RNAscope, Sanger sequencing), but not in Lhcgr-/- mice. Intraperitoneal AlexaFluor-488–labeled hCG bound to gonadal and subcutaneous fat pads in wild type mice, but not in Lhcgr-/- mice. Following i.v. 89Zr–LH injection, radioactivity was detected in mesenteric, inguinal and gonadal WAT. LH, hCG and ORG43553 rapidly induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation in differentiated 3T3.L1 cells. Female and male Lhcgr+/- mice on normal chow and high–fat diet, respectively, became obese, importantly, without changes in sex steroids. The gene–dosage effect of Lhcgr depletion suggests a dominant physiologic action of LH on body composition. 14–week–old male C57BL/6 mice were fed on high–fat diet and injected, i.p., with LH, hCG or vehicle, twice–a–week, for 6 weeks. Both LH and hCG markedly reduced body fat accrual (qNMR) but triggered a rise in serum testosterone. The hCG–induced lean phenotype persisted despite androgen receptor blockade by flutamide—confirming that the pro–lean actions of LH and hCG were largely independent of testosterone. Furthermore that LH failed to inhibit fat accrual in Lhcgr-/- mice testified to its action via the LHCGR. Injection of ORG43553 into male C57BL/6 mice for 9 weeks caused a significant reduction in fat mass (qNMR), with reduced WAT weight in fat depots. Remarkably, serum testosterone remained unchanged confirming that the anti–adiposity effect of ORG43553 was independent of testosterone. To study the mechanism of LHCGR activation on body fat, 3T3.L1 adipocytes were treated with hCG or ORG43553 for 12 hours. This resulted in reduced oil droplet accumulation. 3T3-L1–derived organoids treated with LH, hCG or ORG43553 also displayed a substantial reduction in the differentiated layer compared to vehicle–treated organoids. To study whether, in addition to reducing adipocyte differentiation, LHCGR agonism also enhanced thermogenesis, 3T3-L1 adipocytes were pretreated with ORG43553 for 1 hour before measuring oxygen consumption rate (OCR) on a Seahorse Xf96 Analyzer. ORG43553 increased OCR at baseline and upon oligomycin exposure, indicating mitochondria proton leak (thermogenesis). To confirm increased energy expenditure in vivo, mice were injected, s.c., with ORG43553 or vehicle. Oxygen consumption (VO2) and energy expenditure (EE) increased acutely in ORG43553–treated mice, with no change in locomotor activity. The findings suggest that ORG45335, which has been tested in humans for infertility, can potentially become a candidate drug for obesity.

Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023