Leptin reduces the development of the initial precancerous lesions induced by azoxymethane in the rat colonic mucosa

• Published in: Gastroenterology (New York, N.Y. 1943) Vol. 126; no. 2; p. 499
• Main Authors: Aparicio, Thomas, Guilmeau, Sandra, Goiot, Hélène, Tsocas, Annick, Laigneau, Jean-Pierre, Bado, André, Sobhani, Iradj, Lehy, Thérèse
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2004
• Subjects: Animals; Azoxymethane; Carcinogens; Cell Division - drug effects; Colonic Neoplasms - chemically induced; Colonic Neoplasms - pathology; Colonic Neoplasms - prevention & control; Infusion Pumps; Injections; Intestinal Mucosa - drug effects; Intestinal Mucosa - pathology; Leptin - administration & dosage; Leptin - pharmacology; Male; Precancerous Conditions - chemically induced; Precancerous Conditions - pathology; Precancerous Conditions - prevention & control; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Recombinant Proteins - administration & dosage; Recombinant Proteins - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0016-5085
• DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2003.11.004

Recent studies suggest that leptin, a hormone involved in food intake regulation, released into the circulation and gastrointestinal juice, may be a growth factor for intestine and may be involved in carcinogenesis; however, data are contradictory. This study investigates in rat colonic mucosa (1) the effects of hyperleptinemia on epithelial cell proliferation and development of aberrant crypts, earliest preneoplastic lesions, and (2) whether luminal leptin affects cell proliferation. Leptin (1 mg/kg/d) or vehicle was administered systemically by miniosmotic pump in Fischer 344 rats either for 7 days (BrdU-labeling indices study) or 23 days (azoxymethane-induced colonic lesions study). The effects of injections or continuous infusion of leptin into the colon were also studied. In systemic leptin-treated rats, plasma leptin levels were 4- to 5-fold increased (P < 0.008 to P < 0.001); labeling indices were higher in proximal colon than in pair-fed control rats (P = 0.006) but unaffected in distal colon. Unexpectedly, in azoxymethane-treated rats, leptin significantly inhibited aberrant crypt foci formation in the middle and distal colon compared with controls (P = 0.006). Under these conditions, plasma insulin levels were reduced by 41%-58%, but gastrin levels were unchanged. In controls, luminal immunoreactive leptin reached the colon. A 3.6-fold increase in intraluminal leptin had no effect on epithelial cell proliferation. This study provides the first evidence that leptin reduces the development of chemically induced precancerous lesions in colon, perhaps through decreased insulinemia, and thus does not support an important role for leptin in carcinogenesis promotion. Moreover, the study indicates that leptin is not a potent growth factor for normal intestine.