UCP2, UCP3 and leptin gene expression: modulation by food restriction and leptin

To determine the effects of food restriction and leptin administration on several transcripts involved in energy homeostasis, we examined leptin, uncoupling proteins (UCP) 1, 2 and 3, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), beta3-adrenergic receptors (beta3AR) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) mRNA levels in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and epididymal (EWAT) and perirenal (PWAT) white adipose tissue in three groups of rats. The groups were administered leptin for 1 week, or had food restricted to the amount of food consumed by the leptin-treated animals, or had free access to food. Leptin administration increased serum leptin concentrations 50-fold and decreased food consumption by 43%, whereas serum insulin and corticosterone concentrations were unchanged. Leptin increased LPL mRNA by 80%, UCP1 mRNA twofold, and UCP3 mRNA levels by 62% in BAT, and increased UCP2 mRNA levels twofold in EWAT. In contrast, UCP2 mRNA levels were unchanged in PWAT and BAT. In WAT from food-restricted rats, leptin gene expression was diminished by 40% compared with those fed ad libitum. With leptin administration, there was a further 50% decrease in leptin expression. LPL mRNA levels were decreased by food restriction but not by leptin in WAT, whereas beta3AR and HSL mRNA levels were unchanged with either food restriction or leptin treatment. The present study indicates that leptin increases the gene expression of UCP2 in EWAT and that of UCP1, UCP3 and LPL in BAT, whereas reduced food consumption but not leptin, decreases LPL expression in WAT. In addition, with leptin administration there is a decrease in leptin gene expression in WAT, independent of food intake and serum insulin and corticosterone concentrations.