title: Regulation of expression of ob mRNA and protein by glucocorticoids and cAMP.
abstract: Regulation of obese gene (ob) expression in ob/ob and db/db mice and in cultured rat adipocytes was examined. It has been demonstrated that exogenous human OB protein (leptin) treatment reduces food intake and weight gain, as well as insulin, glucose, and corticosterone levels in ob/ob mice. In the present report we show that leptin treatment down-regulates endogenous adipose ob mRNA. However, treatment of isolated rat adipocytes with 100 ng/ml human or murine leptin had no direct effect on expression of endogenous ob mRNA, suggesting that leptin may be able to down-regulate its own expression by an indirect, non-autocrine mechanism. Glucocorticoids increased both ob mRNA levels and secreted leptin levels in vitro. Conversely, agents that increase intracellular cAMP, such as beta-adrenergic agonists or Bt2cAMP itself, decreased ob mRNA expression and leptin secretion. Therefore, increased glucocorticoid levels and decreased sympathetic neural activity may contribute to the elevated ob mRNA expression observed in genetically obese, hyperglucocorticoid rodents. Furthermore, leptin might regulate its own expression through a feedback mechanism involving the hypothalamic pituitary axis.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Research and Technology Core Divisions, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, USA.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Slieker
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Sloop
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Surface
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kriauciunas
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: LaQuier
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manetta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bue-Valleskey
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Stephens
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000502:physiology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004822:Epididymis; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D020738:Leptin; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008820:Mice, Obese; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003994:Bucladesine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D006854:Hydrocortisone