title: Effects of dopamine on leptin release and leptin gene (OB) expression in adipocytes from obese and hypertensive patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A reduction of dopaminergic (DAergic) activity with increased prolactin levels has been found in obese and hypertensive patients, suggesting its involvement as a pathophysiological mechanism promoting hypertension. Similarly, leptin action increasing sympathetic activity has been proposed to be involved in mechanisms of hypertension. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of DA, norepinephrine (NE), and prolactin on leptin release and leptin gene (OB) expression in adipocytes from obese and hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Leptin release and OB gene expression were analyzed in cultured adipocytes from 16 obese and hypertensive patients treated with DA (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 μmol/L), NE (1.0 μmol/L), insulin (0.1 μmol/L), and prolactin (1.0 μmol/L), and from five nonobese and normotensive controls treated with DA (1 μmol/L), NE (1 μmol/L), insulin (0.1 μmol/L), and prolactin (1.0 μmol/L).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A dose-related reduction of leptin release and OB gene messenger ribonucleic acid expression under different doses of DA was observed in adipocytes from obese hypertensive patients. Whereas prolactin treatment elicited a significant increase of both leptin release and OB gene expression, NE reduced these parameters. Although similar effects of DA and NE were observed in adipocytes from controls, baseline values in controls were reduced to 20% of the value in adipocytes from obese hypertensive patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that DAergic deficiency contributes to metabolic disorders linked to hyperleptinemia in obese and hypertensive patients.
authors.affiliation: Hospital General Regional N°1, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Morelia, México ; Facultad de Ciencias Médicas y Biológicas "Dr. Ignacio Chávez" Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH), Morelia, Michoacán, México ; División de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), México DF, México.
authors.forename: Cleto
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Aguilar
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Médicas y Biológicas "Dr. Ignacio Chávez" Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH), Morelia, Michoacán, México.
authors.forename: Alfonso Rafael
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Paredes
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stenvinkel
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Elvia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-López
authors.affiliation: Coordinación Delegacional de Investigación en Salud, IMSS, Morelia, México.
authors.forename: Oliva
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mejía-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Centro Multidisciplinario de Estudios en Biotecnología (CMEB), UMSNH, Morelia, Michoacán, México.
authors.forename: Joel Edmundo
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: López-Meza
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, UNAM, Tlalnepantla, México.
authors.forename: Dante
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación en Enfermedades Nefrológicas, Hospital de Especialidades, CMN Siglo XXI, IMSS, México DF, México.
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paniagua
keywords: cultured adipocytes; dopamine; hypertension; leptin; obesity