Leptin signaling in adipose tissue: role in lipid accumulation and weight gain.
BACKGROUND
The link between obesity, hyperleptinemia, and development of cardiovascular disease is not completely understood. Increases in leptin have been shown to impair leptin signaling via caveolin-1-dependent mechanisms. However, the role of hyperleptinemia versus impaired leptin signaling in adipose tissue is not known.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the presence and significance of leptin-dependent increases in adipose tissue caveolin-1 expression in humans.


RESULTS
We designed a longitudinal study to investigate the effects of increases in leptin on adipose tissue caveolin-1 expression during weight gain in humans. Ten volunteers underwent 8 weeks of overfeeding, during which they gained an average weight of 4.1±1.4 kg, with leptin increases from 7±3.8 to 12±5.7 ng/mL. Weight gain also resulted in changes in adipose tissue caveolin-1 expression, which correlated with increases in leptin (rho=0.79, P=0.01). In cultured human white preadipocytes, leptin increased caveolin-1 expression, which in turn impaired leptin cellular signaling. Functionally, leptin decreased lipid accumulation in differentiating human white preadipocytes, which was prevented by caveolin-1 overexpression. Further, leptin decreased perilipin and fatty acid synthase expression, which play an important role in lipid storage and biogenesis.


CONCLUSIONS
In healthy humans, increases in leptin, as seen with modest weight gain, may increase caveolin-1 expression in adipose tissue. Increased caveolin-1 expression in turn impairs leptin signaling and attenuates leptin-dependent lowering of intracellular lipid accumulation. Our study suggests a leptin-dependent feedback mechanism that may be essential to facilitate adipocyte lipid storage during weight gain.
Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Prachi
P
Singh
Timothy E
TE
Peterson
Fatima H
FH
Sert-Kuniyoshi
Jason A
JA
Glenn
Diane E
DE
Davison
Abel
A
Romero-Corral
Snigdha
S
Pusalavidyasagar
Michael D
MD
Jensen
Virend K
VK
Somers
D052438:Adipocytes, White / Q000378:metabolism; D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D051242:Caveolin 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000378:metabolism*; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D051242:Caveolin 1; D020738:Leptin