title: Leptin receptor isoforms mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic viral hepatitis.
abstract: There is accumulating evidence that leptin has a pleiotropic role in hematopoiesis, immune response, fibrogenesis, and hepatocarcinogenesis. We investigated the expression of leptin and leptin receptor (OB-R) at the protein level by flow cytometry and also quantified by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) the two major leptin receptor isoforms (OB-Rl, OB-Rs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with hepatitis B (HBV; n = 31), hepatitis C (HCV; n = 34), and nonviral liver disease (n = 25), and healthy controls (n = 36), as well as in liver tissues of HBV (n = 8), HCV (n = 7), and healthy individuals (n = 6). Serum leptin levels were measured in all participants (N = 126). We observed significantly lower OB-Rl and OB-Rs mRNA levels in PBMCs of HBV and HCV patients compared with healthy controls and nonviral liver disease patients (P < 0.05). Flow cytometry analysis confirmed the real-time RT-PCR results. Expression of leptin and OB-Rl was significantly increased in viral hepatitis liver tissues compared with healthy tissues (P < 0.01). OB-Rl mRNA levels were not associated with hepatitis patients' clinical status (inactive, chronic hepatitis, or cirrhosis). We also found decreased serum leptin in HBV and HCV patients compared with healthy individuals and the nonviral liver disease group. Leptin was expressed in 3 of 34 HCV (8.8%) and 19 of 25 (76%) nonviral liver disease patients. Moreover, expression of OB-Rl and OB-Rs were associated when all individuals were grouped together (r = 0.78, P < 0.001). In conclusion, our findings may suggest the involvement of the leptin system in the immunopathology of chronic viral hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: University of Thessaly, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical School, Department of Biology, 22 Papakyriazi Street, 41222 Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stefanou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Satra
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papanikolaou
authors.forename: Fani
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kalala
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gatselis
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Germenis
authors.forename: George N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Dalekos
authors.forename: Aspasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsezou
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: C515448:LEPR protein, human; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054411:Receptors, Leptin