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Gut 2000;47:481-486 doi:10.1136/gut.47.4.481
  • Stomach

Expression of leptin and leptin receptor isoforms in the human stomach

  1. H Mixa,
  2. A Widjajab,
  3. O Jandla,
  4. M Cornberga,
  5. A Kaula,
  6. M Gökea,
  7. W Beilc,
  8. M Kusked,
  9. G Brabantb,
  10. M P Mannsa,
  11. S Wagnera
  1. aDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany, bDepartment of Endocrinology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany, cDepartment of Pharmacology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany, dInstitute for Pathology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany
  1. Dr S Wagner, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. Email: wagner.siegfried{at}mh-hannover.de
  • Accepted 8 February 2000

Abstract

BACKGROUND Leptin is an important regulator of food intake and energy expenditure. Initially it was thought to be expressed exclusively in and secreted by adipocytes. Recently, leptin expression was also noted in other tissues, including rat gastric mucosa. Information on leptin and leptin receptor expression in the human stomach is lacking.

AIM To investigate expression of leptin and its corresponding receptors in human gastric epithelial cells.

METHODS Fundic and antral gastric mucosal biopsies, primary cultures of human gastric epithelial cells, and the human gastric cancer cell line AGS were screened for expression of leptin and different leptin receptor isoform mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemistry was performed for localisation of leptin and leptin receptor proteins in gastric mucosa.

RESULTS mRNA of leptin and its four receptor isoforms (huOB-R, long receptor isoform; huB219.1–3, short receptor isoforms) was detected in gastric mucosal biopsies, cultured human gastric epithelial cells, and gastric cancer cells. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that chief as well as parietal cells were reactive to leptin and leptin receptors.

CONCLUSIONS Leptin and leptin receptors are expressed in human gastric mucosa. These findings suggest a paracrine and/or autocrine effect of leptin on gastric epithelial cell function.

Footnotes

  • Abbreviations used in this paper:
    FITC
    fluorescein isothiocyanate
    huOB-R
    human long leptin receptor isoform
    huB219.1-huB219.3
    human short leptin receptor isoforms
    RT-PCR
    reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction
    BSA
    bovine serum albumin

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