Dexamethasone increases leptin expression in humans in vivo.
The effect of 2 days of oral dexamethasone administration (0.75 mg twice daily) on leptin expression in healthy volunteers was tested. Dexamethasone increased the relative abundance of leptin messenger RNA in abdominal and gluteal adipose tissues by approximately 70% (P < 0.05). Dexamethasone also significantly increased serum leptin (+ 80%) and insulin concentration (+ 83%) but did not affect serum glucose. We conclude that a hypercortisolemic/hyperinsulinemic state up-regulates leptin expression at the messenger RNA level in humans.
Papaspyrou-Rao
S
S
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903, USA.
Schneider
S H
SH
Petersen
R N
RN
Fried
S K
SK
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase