Neuroligin-3: A Novel Exercise-Induced Secreted Factor Enhancing Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Insulin-Resistant Mice
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS: This study aimed to identify novel exercise-induced myokines and their role in improving insulin sensitivity and reducing inflammation. We identified neuroligin-3 (NLGN3) as an exercise-induced mediator that enhances insulin sensitivity and alleviates inflammation. Exercise-induced NLGN3 upregulation or recombinant NLGN3 administration improved metabolic function in high-fat diet-fed mice via neurexin-1 and -3 (NRXN1/3), but these benefits were lost upon NRXN1/3 ablation. NLGN3 emerges as a key mediator of exercise-driven metabolic benefits and a promising therapeutic target for obesity-associated insulin resistance.
Authors
- Upalabdha Dey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8963-4346)
- Durba Pal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7672-3529)
- Suman Dasgupta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2599-2299)
- Kulbhushan Tikoo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3061-9739)
- Debarun Patra (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1660-7398)
- Palla Ramprasad (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2686-9874)
- Ankit Vashisth
- Archana Sinha
- Soumyajit Roy
- Aditya Kumar
- Shivam Sharma
- Subrata Mishra
Institutions
- Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (IN)
- Tezpur University (IN)
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (IN)
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (IN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Diabetes
- Published
- 2026-05-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.2337/db25-0259
- Primary Topic
- Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India
- Indian Council of Medical Research
- The Wellcome Trust DBT India Alliance