title: Leptin impairs insulin signaling in rat adipocytes.
abstract: Leptin modulates glucose homeostasis by acting as an insulin-sensitizing factor in most insulin target tissues. Nevertheless, insulin-dependent glucose uptake in white adipose tissue decreases after in vivo treatment with leptin. Moreover, elevated leptin concentrations inhibit insulin metabolic effects in adipocytes. Here we studied both, direct and centrally mediated effects of leptin on insulin signaling in rat adipocytes. Adipocyte incubation with low leptin concentrations did not modify the insulin stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). However, at elevated concentrations, leptin impaired insulin-stimulated MAPK activity, glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)3beta phosphorylation, and insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation without altering vanadate stimulation. An increase of suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 protein was also observed. Central administration of leptin decreased insulin effects on adipocyte MAPK and GSK3beta phosphorylation. In insulin-resistant aged rats with hyperleptinemia and central leptin resistance, insulin poorly stimulated MAPK and central leptin infusion did not further deteriorate adipocyte insulin responsiveness. Food restriction increased MAPK stimulation by insulin and restored the ability of centrally infused leptin to attenuate adipocyte insulin signaling in aged rats. We conclude that leptin can modulate, in an inhibitory manner, adipocyte insulin signaling by two different ways: as an autocrine signal and, indirectly, through neuroendocrine pathways. These mechanisms may be of relevance in situations of hyperleptinemia, such as aging and/or obesity.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa, Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Coralia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández-Galaz
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fernández-Agulló
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arribas
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrés
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ros
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Carrascosa
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020738:Leptin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C491410:Socs3 protein, rat; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases