Does leptin exhibit cytokine-like properties in tissues of pregnancy?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether leptin exhibits cytokine-like properties in gestational tissues in light of its homologies with the class I family of cytokines.


METHODS
WISH and JEG3 cells, and amnion and choriodecidua explants, were treated inflammatory modulators (interleukin-1beta [IL-1beta], tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha] and bacterial lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) and leptin production was measured by immunoassay. Other agents known to regulate adipocyte leptin production were also tested for comparative purposes. In addition, WISH cells, JAR cells and placental explants were treated with leptin to assess its effects on production of IL-8, IL-6 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).


RESULTS
Leptin production by all cells and tissues studied was unaffected by treatment with IL-1beta (2.5 ng/mL), TNF-alpha (25 ng/mL) and LPS (2.5 microg/mL). Dexamethasone stimulated leptin production over two-fold by WISH and JEG3 cells, whereas insulin also stimulated a two-fold increase in leptin production in JEG3 cells. IL-6 production by JAR cells and placental explants was stimulated (two- to three-fold) by leptin (300 ng/mL). PGE2 production was unaffected.


CONCLUSIONS
Leptin derived from gestational tissues is unlikely to play a role in inflammatory reactions within the placenta, but may regulate placental cytokine production. The physiological significance of amnion-derived leptin remains to be established.
Soh
E B
EB
University of Auckland, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, New Zealand. b.soh@auckland.ac.nz
Mitchell
M D
MD
Keelan
J A
JA
D000650:Amnion / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002822:Choriocarcinoma; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000378:metabolism; D046508:Culture Techniques; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D003656:Decidua / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020738:Leptin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D020738:Leptin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins