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Background/aims: The E74-like factor 3 (ELF3) is an inflammatory mediator that participates in cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis. Leptin and other adipokines negatively impact articular cartilage, triggering catabolic and inflammatory responses in chondrocytes. Here, we investigated whether leptin induces ELF3 expression in chondrocytes and the signaling pathway involved in this process., Methods: We determined mRNA and protein levels of ELF3 by RT-qPCR and Western blotting using cultured human primary chondrocytes and the human T/C-28a2 chondrocyte cell line. Further, we measured luciferase activities of different reporter constructs, and we assessed the contribution of leptin to the induction of ELF3 mRNA by knocking down hLEPR gene expression using siRNA technology., Results: Leptin synergizes with IL-1β in inducing ELF3 expression in chondrocytes. We also found that PI3K, p38, and JAK2 signaling pathways are at play in the leptin-driven induction of ELF3. Moreover, we confirm the participation of NFΚB in the leptin/IL-1β synergistic induction of ELF3., Conclusion: Here we show, for the first time, the regulation of ELF3 expression by leptin, suggesting that this transcription factor likely mediates the inflammatory responses triggered by leptin in articular chondrocytes., (© 2018 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

In a previous study, we established that leptin acts synergistically with interferon-gamma in inducing nitric oxide synthase type II in cultured chondrocytes via Janus kinase-2 activation. However, the exact molecular mechanism that accounts for this synergism is not completely understood. The aim of the present study was to further delineate the signalling pathway used by leptin/interferon-gamma in the nitric oxide synthase type II induction in chondrocytes. Consequently, the roles of PI-3 kinase, MEK1 and p38 kinase were investigated using specific pharmacological inhibitors (Wortmannin, LY 294002, PD 098,059 and SB 203580). For this purpose, the amount of stable nitrite, the end product of NO generation by activated chondrocytes, has been evaluated by Griess colorimetric reaction in culture medium of human primary chondrocytes and in the murine ATDC5 cell line stimulated with leptin (400 nM) and interferon-gamma (1 ng/ml), alone or in combination. Specific inhibitors for PI-3K, MEK1 and p38 were added 1 h before stimulation. Nitric oxide synthase type II mRNA was investigated by real-time RT-PCR and NOS type II protein expression has been evaluated by western blot analysis. Our results showed that, as expected, leptin synergizes with IFN-gamma in inducing NO accumulation in the supernatant of co-stimulated cells. Pre-treatment with Wortmannin, LY 294002, PD 098,059 and SB 203580 caused a significant decrease in nitrite production, NOS type II protein expression and NOS type II mRNA expression induced by leptin and interferon-gamma co-stimulation. These findings were confirmed in 15 and 21-day differentiated ATDC5 cells, and in normal human primary chondrocytes. This is the first report showing that NOS type II induction triggered by co-stimulation with leptin and interferon-gamma is mediated by a signaling pathway involving PI-3K, MEK1 and p38.

Initially described as a satiety factor with neuroendocrine properties, leptin has been shown to regulate immune and inflammatory processes. Mainly produced by white adipose tissue, this hormone was first known to regulate energy homeostasis by inhibiting food intake and by upregulating energy consumption. Leptin is a dual molecule: apart from its actions as a hormone involved in energy homeostasis, increasing evidence suggests that leptin is a novel proinflammatory adipocyte-derived factor that operates in the cytokine network by linking immune and inflammatory processes to the neuroendocrine system. In fact, recent findings have shown that leptin regulates and participates both in immune homeostasis and inflammatory processes not only by acting as a modulator of T-cell activity, but also by playing a key role in a host of autoimmune inflammatory conditions such as autoimmune encephalomyelitis, type 1 diabetes, bowel inflammation and articular degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This review will more closely address leptin's cytokine properties rather than its role as a metabolic hormone by focusing on its biological actions in inflammatory processes, specifically those related to degenerative inflammatory diseases of the joints., (2006 Prous Science. All rights reserved.)

Leptin is 16 kDa adipokine that links nutritional status with neuroendocrine and immune functions. Initially thought to be a satiety factor that regulates body weight by inhibiting food intake and stimulating energy expenditure, leptin is a pleiotropic hormone whose multiple effects include regulation of endocrine function, reproduction, and immunity. Leptin can be considered as a pro-inflammatory cytokine that belongs to the family of long-chain helical cytokines and has structural similarity with interleukin-6, prolactin, growth hormone, IL-12, IL-15, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and oncostatin M. Because of its dual nature as a hormone and cytokine, leptin links the neuroendocrine and the immune system. The role of leptin in the modulation of immune response and inflammation has recently become increasingly evident. The increase in leptin production that occurs during infection and inflammation strongly suggests that leptin is a part of the cytokine network which governs the inflammatory-immune response and the host defense mechanisms. Leptin plays an important role in inflammatory processes involving T cells and has been reported to modulate T-helper cells activity in the cellular immune response. Several studies have implicated leptin in the pathogenesis of autoimmune inflammatory conditions, such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and intestinal inflammation. Very recently, a key role for leptin in osteoarthritis has been demonstrated: leptin indeed exhibits, in concert with other pro-inflammatory cytokines, a detrimental effect on articular cartilage by promoting nitric oxide synthesis in chondrocytes. Here, we review the recent advances regarding leptin biology with a special focus on those actions relevant to the role of leptin in the pathophysiology of inflammatory processes and immune responses.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of leptin, alone or in combination with IL-1, on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) type II activity in vitro in human primary chondrocytes, in the mouse chondrogenic ATDC5 cell line, and in mature and hypertrophic ATDC5 differentiated chondrocytes. For completeness, we also investigated the signalling pathway of the putative synergism between leptin and IL-1. For this purpose, nitric oxide production was evaluated using the Griess colorimetric reaction in culture medium of cells stimulated over 48 hours with leptin (800 nmol/l) and IL-1 (0.025 ng/ml), alone or combined. Specific pharmacological inhibitors of NOS type II (aminoguanidine [1 mmol/l]), janus kinase (JAK)2 (tyrphostin AG490 and Tkip), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K; wortmannin [1, 2.5, 5 and 10 micromol/l] and LY294002 [1, 2.5, 5 and 10 micromol/l]), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)1 (PD098059 [1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 micromol/l]) and p38 kinase (SB203580 [1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 micromol/l]) were added 1 hour before stimulation. Nitric oxide synthase type II mRNA expression in ATDC5 chondrocytes was investigated by real-time PCR and NOS II protein expression was analyzed by western blot. Our results indicate that stimulation of chondrocytes with IL-1 results in dose-dependent nitric oxide production. In contrast, leptin alone was unable to induce nitric oxide production or expression of NOS type II mRNA or its protein. However, co-stimulation with leptin and IL-1 resulted in a net increase in nitric oxide concentration over IL-1 challenge that was eliminated by pretreatment with the NOS II specific inhibitor aminoguanidine. Pretreatment with tyrphostin AG490 and Tkip (a SOCS-1 mimetic peptide that inhibits JAK2) blocked nitric oxide production induced by leptin/IL-1. Finally, wortmannin, LY294002, PD098059 and SB203580 significantly decreased nitric oxide production. These findings were confirmed in mature and hypertrophic ATDC5 chondrocytes, and in human primary chondrocytes. This study indicates that leptin plays a proinflammatory role, in synergy with IL-1, by inducing NOS type II through a signalling pathway that involves JAK2, PI3K, MEK-1 and p38 kinase.

Objective: To study, in vitro, the effect of leptin (OB), alone or in combination with interferon-gamma (IFNgamma), on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and NO production in human primary chondrocytes and in mouse embryonic chondrogenic ATDC5 cells., Methods: Leptin receptor expression and iNOS messenger RNA expression were evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Then, iNOS activity was indirectly studied by measuring nitrite accumulation, using the Griess colorimetric reaction, in culture medium of human primary chondrocytes and ATDC5 cells., Results: ATDC5 mouse embryonic cells expressed functional OB receptor. Alone, neither OB nor IFNgamma produced nitrite accumulation in culture medium. However, costimulation with OB and IFNgamma resulted in dose-dependent up-regulation of the expression of iNOS and NO production in human primary chondrocytes and ATDC5 cells. Production of NO was blunted by the iNOS-specific inhibitors L-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl ester and aminoguanidine. In addition, the janus-activated kinase 2 (JAK2)-specific inhibitor Tyrphostin AG 490 completely blocked OB + IFNgamma-driven up-regulation of iNOS and NO production., Conclusion: Our data show for the first time a putative proinflammatory role of OB via iNOS induction and NO production. This occurs via activation of JAK2.