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Updated: Jan 1, 2026
Author Spotlight: Hypothalamic Neural Mechanism Insights
Published on: August 4, 2023
Evaluation of leptin receptor expression on buffalo leukocytes
Giovanna De Matteis1, Francesco Grandoni1, Maria Carmela Scatà1
1Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (CREA), Animal Production Research Centre, Monterotondo, Italy.
Insights
Leptin receptor (LEPR) is expressed on Bubalus bubalis immune cells, particularly monocytes, B lymphocytes, and Natural Killer cells. This confirms leptin
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Animal Science
Background:
- Leptin plays a role in regulating the immune system in ruminants.
- Understanding leptin's function in immunity requires identifying its receptor expression on immune cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of the leptin receptor (LEPR) on immune cells of Bubalus bubalis (water buffalo).
- To assess the multi-approach expression of LEPR on buffalo immune cells.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry to quantify LEPR expression on peripheral blood leukocytes.
- Confocal microscopy to visualize LEPR localization on immune cells.
- Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for gene expression analysis of LEPR.
Main Results:
- Peripheral blood monocytes were identified as the predominant cells expressing LEPR.
- LEPR expression was also found on B lymphocytes and Natural Killer (NK) cells.
- Confocal microscopy and RT-PCR corroborated flow cytometry findings.
Conclusions:
- Leptin receptor (LEPR) is expressed on Bubalus bubalis leukocytes, including monocytes, B cells, and NK cells.
- LEPR expression indicates the responsiveness of these buffalo immune cells to leptin.
- This study confirms the involvement of leptin in the immune response of water buffalo.
Abstract:
Experimental evidences support a direct role for leptin in immunity. Besides controlling food intake and energy expenditure, leptin was reported to be involved in the regulation of the immune system in ruminants. The aim of this work was to highlight the expression of leptin receptor (LEPR) on Bubalus bubalis immune cells using a multi-approach assessment: flow cytometry, confocal microscopy and gene expression analysis. Flow cytometric analysis of LEPR expression showed that peripheral blood monocytes were the predominant cells expressing LEPR. This result was corroborated by confocal microscopy and RT-PCR analysis. Moreover, among lymphocytes, LEPR was mainly expressed by B lymphocytes and Natural Killer cells. Evidence of LEPR expression on buffalo blood leukocytes showed to be a good indicator of the responsivity of these cells to leptin, so confirming the involvement of leptin in buffalo immune response.
