title: Reduced cholesterol accumulation by leptin deficient (ob/ob) mouse macrophages.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although presenting many aspects of the metabolic syndrome, leptin deficient (ob/ob) mice do not spontaneously develop atherosclerosis. To examine the role of leptin in foam cell formation we analyzed ob/ob leukocyte inflammation markers and macrophage cholesterol accumulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Resident and thioglycollate (TG) elicited peritoneal cells of ob/ob and wildtype mice were studied. Activation markers, scavenger receptors (SR) and cholesterol accumulation were analyzed using flow cytometry and Taqman analysis. Cytokines, haptoglobin, adiponectin and amyloid A levels were analyzed with ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Macrophages of ob/ob mice had reduced expression of MHC class II, CD11b, CD40, SR-A and CD36 and reduced cholesterol accumulation in vitro. Plasma haptoglobin was increased and T-cell IFNgamma was reduced in ob/ob mice. Peritoneal TG instillation induced an unexpectedly weak inflammatory response in ob/ob mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ob/ob mice had a reduced inflammatory response and reduced macrophage cholesterol accumulation in vitro. The data suggest decreased foam cell formation and atherosclerosis development in ob/ob mice.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Molecular Pharmacology, AstraZeneca R&D, Mölndal, Sweden. martin.kjerrulf@astrazeneca.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kjerrulf
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Berke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aspegren
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Umaerus
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hurt-Camejo
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000235:genetics; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000235:genetics*; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008820:Mice, Obese
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D006242:Haptoglobins; D020738:Leptin; D008055:Lipids; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002784:Cholesterol