title: Adiponectin activation of AMPK disrupts leptin-mediated hepatic fibrosis via suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS-3).
abstract: Adiponectin is an adipocytokine that was recently shown to be anti-fibrogenic in hepatic fibrosis. Leptin, on the other hand, promotes hepatic fibrosis. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate a mechanism (or mechanisms) whereby adiponectin dampens leptin signaling in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and prevents excess extracellular matrix production. Activated HSCs, between passages 2 and 5, were cultured and exposed to recombinant human adiponectin and recombinant leptin. Immunoblot analysis for SOCS-3, TIMP-1, and the phosphorylated species of Stat3 and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) were conducted. We also examined MMP-1 activity by immunosorbant fluorimetric analysis. In HSCs, adiponectin-induced phosphorylation of AMPK, and subsequently suppressed leptin-mediated Stat3 phosphorylation and SOCS-3 induction. Adiponectin also blocked leptin-stimulated secretion of TIMP-1, and significantly increased MMP-1 activity, in vitro. To extend this study, we treated adiponectin knockout mice (Ad-/-) daily with 5 mg/kg recombinant leptin and/or carbon tetrachloride (2 ml/kg) for 6 weeks. Post-necropsy analysis was performed to examine for inflammation, and histological changes in the Ad-/- and wild-type mice. There was no significant difference in inflammation, or aminotransferases, between mice receiving carbon tetrachloride and leptin versus carbon tetrachloride alone. As anticipated, the combination of leptin and CCl(4) enhanced hepatic fibrosis in both wild-type and Ad-/- mice, as estimated by amount of collagen in injured livers, but wild-type mice had significantly higher levels of SOCS-3 and significantly lower levels of TIMP-1 mRNA and protein than did adiponectin KO mice exposed to both CCl(4) and leptin. We therefore conclude that the protective effects of adiponectin against liver fibrosis require AMPK activation, and may occur through inhibition of the Jak-Stat signal transduction pathway.
authors.affiliation: Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Handy
authors.forename: Neeraj K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.forename: Pingping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Songbai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jamie E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mells
authors.forename: Nitika A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Anania
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D020738:Leptin; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1