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Adipose tissue expansion during obesity is associated with increased macrophage infiltration. Macrophage- derived factors significantly alter adipocyte function, inducing inflammatory responses and decreasing insulin sensitivity. Identification of the major factors that mediate detrimental effects of macrophages on adipocytes may offer potential therapeutic targets. IL-1β, a proinflammatory cytokine, is suggested to be involved in the development of insulin resistance. This study investigated the role of IL-1β in macrophage-adipocyte cross-talk, which affects insulin signaling in human adipocytes. Using macrophage-conditioned (MC) medium and human primary adipocytes, we examined the effect of IL-1β antagonism on the insulin signaling pathway. Gene expression profile and protein abundance of insulin signaling molecules were determined, as was the production of proinflammatory cytokine/chemokines. We also examined whether IL-1β mediates MC medium-induced alteration in adipocyte lipid storage. MC medium and IL-1β significantly reduced gene expression and protein abundance of insulin signaling molecules, including insulin receptor substrate-1, phosphoinositide 3-kinase p85α, and glucose transporter 4 and phosphorylation of Akt. In contrast, the expression and release of the proinflammatory markers, including IL-6, IL-8, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 by adipocytes were markedly increased. These changes were significantly reduced by blocking IL-1β activity, its receptor binding, or its production by macrophages. MC mediuminhibited expression of the adipogenic factors and -stimulated lipolysis was also blunted with IL-1β neutralization. We conclude that IL-1β mediates, at least in part, the effect of macrophages on insulin signaling and proinflammatory response in human adipocytes. Blocking IL-1β could be beneficial for preventing obesity-associated insulin resistance and inflammation in human adipose tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adiposity and obesity are increasing in dogs. We have examined here the endocrine function of canine adipose tissue and the regulation of production of inflammation-related adipokines by dog adipocytes. Adiponectin, leptin, IL-6, MCP-1 and TNFα genes were expressed in the main adipose depots of dogs, but there were no major depot differences in mRNA levels. Each adipokine was expressed in canine adipocytes differentiated in culture and secreted into the medium (leptin undetected). IL-6, MCP-1 and TNFα were also expressed and secreted by preadipocytes; adiponectin and leptin were only expressed after adipocyte differentiation. The inflammatory mediators LPS and TNFα had major stimulatory effects on the expression and secretion of IL-6, MCP-1 and TNFα; there was a >5,000-fold increase in IL-6 mRNA level with LPS. IL-6 release into the medium was increased >50-fold over 24 h with LPS and TNFα, while MCP-1 release was increased 23- and 40-fold by TNFα and LPS, respectively. However, there was no effect, or small reductions, in adiponectin and leptin mRNA levels with the inflammatory mediators. Dexamethasone-stimulated leptin gene expression, had no effect on adiponectin expression, but decreased the expression and secretion of IL-6 and MCP-1. The PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone stimulated both adiponectin and leptin expression and inhibited the expression of IL-6, MCP-1 and TNFα; MCP-1 secretion was reduced. These results demonstrate that canine adipocytes express and secrete key adipokines and show that adipocytes of this species are highly responsive to inflammatory mediators with the induction of major increases in the production of inflammation-related adipokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proposition that white adipose tissue is involved in the inflammatory response and metabolic dysregulation of endotoxaemia has been examined. Mice were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 25 mg/kg) and epididymal, perirenal and subcutaneous adipose tissue removed 4 or 24 h later. The expression of genes encoding key inflammation-related adipokines was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. At 24 h after the administration of LPS, there was no change in leptin mRNA level, and adiponectin mRNA fell. However, major increases in TNFα, MCP-1 (up to 40-fold) and IL-6 (up to 250-fold) mRNA levels were evident; a substantial elevation in these mRNAs occurred by 4 h, and adipose tissue IL-6 protein also increased (three- to eightfold). At 24 h, the responses in the subcutaneous depot were much lower than in epididymal and perirenal adipose tissue, but at 4 h, the subcutaneous tissue showed major increases in IL-6, MCP-1 and TNFα gene expression. In contrast to the inflammatory adipokines, the mRNA level of two macrophage markers, F4/80 and MAC-1, was unaltered in adipose tissue during endotoxaemia. Expression of the hypoxia-sensitive transcription factor, HIF-1α, gene was increased at both 4 and 24 h, and HIF-1α protein was elevated at 4 h, suggesting that the tissue was hypoxic. It is concluded that white adipose tissue may play an important role in the production of inflammatory mediators in endotoxaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG), a lipid mobilizing factor, is expressed in mouse adipose tissue and is markedly upregulated in mice with cancer cachexia. We have explored whether ZAG is expressed and secreted by human adipocytes, using SGBS cells, and examined the regulation of ZAG expression. ZAG mRNA was detected by RT-PCR in mature human adipocytes and in SGBS cells post-, but not pre-, differentiation to adipocytes. Relative ZAG mRNA levels increased rapidly after differentiation of SGBS cells, peaking at day 8 post-induction. ZAG protein was evident in differentiated adipocytes (by day 3) and also detected in the culture medium (by day 6) post-induction. The PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone induced a 3-fold increase in ZAG mRNA level, while TNF-α led to a 4-fold decrease. Human adipocytes express and secrete ZAG, with ZAG expression being regulated particularly through TNF-α and the PPARγ nuclear receptor. ZAG is a novel adipokine, which may be involved in the local regulation of adipose tissue function. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A great deal of attention has focused on the central role of alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and its antagonism at the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) by agouti related protein (AgRP) in the regulation of energy balance. However, very little is known regarding the function of circulating AgRP and α-MSH in humans. We aimed to determine whether circulating α-MSH and AgRP are responsive to long-term perturbations in energy balance, in a manner consistent with their central putative functions. Circulating α-MSH, AgRP and leptin were measured in both lean ( n = 11) and obese ( n = 18) male volunteers, some of whom (lean n = 11, obese n = 12) were then allocated one of two weight-loss dietary strategies to achieve about 5% weight loss. This was achieved by either total starvation (for 4–6 days) for rapid weight loss or a very low calorie diet (VLCD, 2·6 MJ/day) (11–12 days) for less rapid weight loss, in both the lean and obese volunteers. At baseline, prior to any weight loss both plasma α-MSH (15·8 ± 1·2 vs. 5·8 ± 1·0 pmol/l ± SEM; P < 0·001) and AgRP (49·4 ± 2·4 vs. 10·1 ± 0·9 pg/ml ± SEM; P < 0·001) were elevated in obese subjects compared with lean. In both cases this correlated closely with fat mass ( P < 0·001), percentage body fat ( P < 0·001) and leptin ( P < 0·05). Plasma AgRP increased significantly during a 6-day fast in lean individuals (11·1 ± 1·6 vs. 21·6 ± 3·1 pg/ml ± SEM; P < 0·05) but not in the VLCD subjects or in the obese, while α-MSH was not affected by any changes in energy balance in either the lean or the obese volunteers. We show a difference in α-MSH and AgRP in lean and obese subjects that correlates closely with body fat at baseline. We demonstrate an increase in plasma AgRP during a 6-day fast in lean individuals that is coincident with a decrease in plasma leptin. This increase in AgRP was not due to weight loss per se as there was no change in AgRP as a result of the same weight loss in the VLCD intervention in lean individuals. The source of the increase in plasma AgRP and its physiological function in the periphery remains to be elucidated but we suggest that the dynamics of the change in plasma leptin may determine the elevation in fasting plasma AgRP in lean subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptin is a 167-amino acid protein that is secreted from adipose cells and expressed in placental tissues. It is important nutritionally in the regulation of energy balance, but also has other functions such as a role in reproduction. To investigate the function of the leptin system in fetal development we examined, primarily by in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, the expression (both mRNA and protein) of leptin and its receptor (including the signalling splice variant) in tissues from 11·5, 13·5, 16·5 and 18·5 d postcoitus murine fetuses and associated placentas. We detected leptin mRNA (at low levels) and protein predominantly in the cytotrophoblasts of the labyrinth part of the placenta, an area of nutrient exchange between the developing fetus and the placenta, and in the trophoblast giant cells situated in the junctional zone at the maternal interface. In addition, leptin was strongly expressed in the fetal cartilage–bone and at a lower level in the hair follicles, heart, and liver of the murine fetus at differing stages of development. The leptin receptor, including the signalling splice variant, was also identified in specific fetal tissues. The physiological importance of expression of both leptin and the leptin receptor (OB-R and OB-Rb) in the placenta remains to be determined. In addition, the high levels of expression of leptin and its receptor in discrete areas of the murine fetus suggest that leptin has a critical role in fetal development. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Demonstrate that leptin is important in the regulation of body weight and fat deposition, while discussing the role of leptin in placental and fetal function. Description of experimental procedures conducted; What the experiment revealed; Analysis of data collected.