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Li WX, Cai LT, Huang YP, Huang YQ, Pan SH, Liu ZL, Ndandala CB, Shi G, Deng SP, Shi HJ, Li GL, Jiang DN. Sequence identification and expression characterization of leptin in the spotted scat, Scatophagus argus. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 269:110882. [PMID: 37562672 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2023.110882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Scatophagus argus is an important marine culture fish in South and South-East Asia, including Southeast coastal areas of China. Artificial propagation technology for S. argus is not optimum; thus further studies on its reproduction biology are required. Although previous studies have shown that leptin (Lep) can regulate fish reproduction, the role of lep genes in S. argus is unknown. Herein, in silico analysis showed that S. argus has two lep genes (lepa and lepb). Protein 3D-structure prediction showed that Lepa has four α-helices (similar to mammals), while Lepb only has three. Tissue distribution analysis showed that lepa is highly expressed in the liver, whereas lepb was not detected in any tissue. Notably, lepr was expressed in all tissues. Lepa mRNA expression levels in the liver and serum Lep, estradiol (E2) and vitellogenin (Vtg) levels of female fish were significantly higher in ovaries at stage IV than in ovaries at stage II. Serum E2 levels were significantly positively correlated with Vtg levels in female fish at different development stages, while serum E2 was not correlated with Lep levels. Consistently, in vitro incubation of the liver with E2 significantly up-regulated vtga, while it did not affect lepa expression. Recombinant Lep (10 nM) significantly up-regulated chicken gonadotropin-releasing hormone (cGnRH/GnRH-II) in the hypothalamus and GnRH receptor (GnRHR) and luteinizing hormone beta (Lhb) in the pituitary. These results suggest that lepa regulates female reproduction in S. argus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Xin Li
- Fisheries College of Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Province Famous Fish Reproduction Regulation and Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Control and Healthy Culture, 524088 Zhanjiang, China
| | - Li-Ting Cai
- Fisheries College of Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Province Famous Fish Reproduction Regulation and Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Control and Healthy Culture, 524088 Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yan-Ping Huang
- Fisheries College of Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Province Famous Fish Reproduction Regulation and Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Control and Healthy Culture, 524088 Zhanjiang, China
| | - Yuan-Qing Huang
- Fisheries College of Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Province Famous Fish Reproduction Regulation and Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Control and Healthy Culture, 524088 Zhanjiang, China
| | - Shu-Hui Pan
- Fisheries College of Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Province Famous Fish Reproduction Regulation and Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Control and Healthy Culture, 524088 Zhanjiang, China
| | - Zhi-Long Liu
- Fisheries College of Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Province Famous Fish Reproduction Regulation and Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Control and Healthy Culture, 524088 Zhanjiang, China
| | - Charles Brighton Ndandala
- Fisheries College of Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Province Famous Fish Reproduction Regulation and Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Control and Healthy Culture, 524088 Zhanjiang, China
| | - Gang Shi
- Fisheries College of Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Province Famous Fish Reproduction Regulation and Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Control and Healthy Culture, 524088 Zhanjiang, China
| | - Si-Ping Deng
- Fisheries College of Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Province Famous Fish Reproduction Regulation and Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Control and Healthy Culture, 524088 Zhanjiang, China
| | - Hong-Juan Shi
- Fisheries College of Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Province Famous Fish Reproduction Regulation and Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Control and Healthy Culture, 524088 Zhanjiang, China
| | - Guang-Li Li
- Fisheries College of Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Province Famous Fish Reproduction Regulation and Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Control and Healthy Culture, 524088 Zhanjiang, China
| | - Dong-Neng Jiang
- Fisheries College of Guangdong Ocean University, Guangdong Province Famous Fish Reproduction Regulation and Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Control and Healthy Culture, 524088 Zhanjiang, China.
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Xie M, Gao J, Wu H, Cheng X, Zhang Z, Song R, Li S, Zhou J, Li C, Zeng G. Molecular Characterization and Expression Pattern of leptin in Yellow Cheek Carp ( Elopichthys bambusa) and Its Transcriptional Changes in Response to Fasting and Refeeding. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12050758. [PMID: 37237570 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Leptin, a secretory protein encoded by obese genes, plays an important role in regulating feeding and energy metabolism in fish. To study the structure and function of the Leptin gene in yellow cheek carp (Elopichthys bambusa), the full-length cDNA sequence of leptin was cloned, named EbLep. The full-length cDNA of Eblep was 1140 bp, and the length of the open reading frame (ORF), which can encode a protein of 174 amino acids, was 525 bp. The signal peptide was predicted to contain 33 amino acids. Sequence alignment showed that the amino acid sequence of Leptin was conserved in cyprinid fish. Despite large differences between primary structures, the tertiary structure of the EbLep protein was similar to that of the human protein and had four α-helices. The EbLep mRNA transcript was detected in all tested tissues, with the highest expression in the liver and lowest expression in the spleen. In this study, short-term fasting significantly increased the mRNA expression of EbLep in the liver, which returned to a normal level after 6 days of refeeding and was significantly lower than the normal level after 28 days of refeeding. In the brain, the mRNA expression of EbLep significantly decreased during short-term fasting and significantly increased to a higher value than the control group after 1 h of refeeding. It then rapidly decreased to a lower value than the control group after 6 h of refeeding, returning to the normal level after 1 day of refeeding, and significantly decreasing to a lower value than the control group after 28 days of refeeding. To sum up, the change in the mRNA expression of EbLep in the brain and liver may be an adaptive strategy for different energy levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Xie
- Hunan Fisheries Science Institute, Changsha 410153, China
| | - Jinwei Gao
- Hunan Fisheries Science Institute, Changsha 410153, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Hunan Fisheries Science Institute, Changsha 410153, China
| | - Xiaofei Cheng
- Hunan Fisheries Science Institute, Changsha 410153, China
| | - Zhou Zhang
- Hunan Fisheries Science Institute, Changsha 410153, China
| | - Rui Song
- Hunan Fisheries Science Institute, Changsha 410153, China
| | - Shaoming Li
- Hunan Fisheries Science Institute, Changsha 410153, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Cheng Li
- Hunan Fisheries Science Institute, Changsha 410153, China
- Hunan Aquatic Foundation Seed Farm, Changsha 410153, China
| | - Guoqing Zeng
- Hunan Fisheries Science Institute, Changsha 410153, China
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Bakshi A, Rai U. Reproductive phase-dependent and sexually dimorphic expression of leptin and its receptor in different parts of brain of spotted snakehead Channa punctata. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2023; 102:904-912. [PMID: 36704849 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The reproductive phase-wise leptin (lep) and its receptor (lepr) expression in different parts of the brain of adult male and female spotted snakehead Channa punctata reveals sexual dimorphism in the brain leptin system. In anterior, middle and posterior parts of the brain of males, a maximum lep was observed in resting, spawning and postspawning reproductive phases, respectively. In females, a high level of lep was seen during the preparatory phase in the anterior brain, preparatory and postspawning phases in the middle brain and resting and postspawning phases in the posterior brain. Nonetheless, the transcript level of lepr was recorded highest during the spawning phase, irrespective of sex and region of the brain. Regardless of the reproductive state of fishes, lep and lepr were seen considerably high in middle and posterior parts of male brain than that of female, implying the involvement of factors other than sex steroids for sex-related variation in the leptin system in these regions of the brain. Nonetheless, no sex difference was evidenced in the expression of either ligand or its receptor in the anterior brain. In summary, the presence of lep and lepr in different regions of the brain and variation in their expression depending on sex and reproductive phases raise the possibility of pivotal actions of leptin in influencing neuronal circuitry and thereby reproductive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrita Bakshi
- Department of Zoology, Ramjas College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
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Li Y, Zhou Y, Lei L, Deng X, Duan Y, Xu J, Fu S, Long R, Yuan D, Zhou C. Molecular cloning and tissue distribution of the leptin gene in gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio): Regulation by postprandial and long-term fasting treatment. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2022; 266:111156. [PMID: 35077899 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Leptin is a multifunctional hormone that serves as a feeding regulator in mammals. However, the effect of leptin on fish remains unclear. We sequenced the leptin gene from gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) and designated it gLEP. The length of the gLEP cDNA sequence was 562 bp, including an open reading frame (ORF) of 516 bp. The ORF putatively encodes a peptide of 171 amino acids, including a signal peptide of 20 amino acids. gLEP shared low primary amino acid sequence homology with leptin genes in vertebrates, whereas three-dimensional (3D) structural modeling revealed strong identity with the structures in other vertebrates. gLEP mRNA was widely distributed in all of the tissue that we examined, with the highest levels of expression in the hepatopancreas. Hepatopancreas gLEP mRNA expression levels showed no changes following postprandial treatment. However, hepatopancreas gLEP mRNA expression levels greatly decreased (P < 0.05) after fasting but substantially increased (P < 0.05) after refeeding in the long-term fasting treatment. In summary, these results indicate that leptin expression could be influenced by the regulation of food intake. These results provide the initial step toward elucidating the appetite regulatory systems associated with leptin in gibel carp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Aquatics Science of Chongqing, 400700, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Aquatics Science of Chongqing, 400700, China
| | - Luo Lei
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214081, China
| | - Xingxing Deng
- Livestock and Aquatic Products Affairs Center of Lengshuitan District, Yongzhou 425000, Hunan, China
| | - Yuting Duan
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Aquatics Science of Chongqing, 400700, China
| | - Jianfei Xu
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Aquatics Science of Chongqing, 400700, China
| | - Suxing Fu
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Aquatics Science of Chongqing, 400700, China
| | - Rui Long
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Aquatics Science of Chongqing, 400700, China
| | - Dengyue Yuan
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Aquatics Science of Chongqing, 400700, China
| | - Chaowei Zhou
- Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, China; Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Aquatics Science of Chongqing, 400700, China.
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Bakshi A, Singh R, Rai U. Trajectory of leptin and leptin receptor in vertebrates: Structure, function and their regulation. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 257:110652. [PMID: 34343670 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2021.110652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The present review provides a comparative insight into structure, function and control of leptin system in fishes, herptiles, birds and mammals. In general, leptin acts as an anorexigenic hormone since its administration results in decrease of food intake in vertebrates. Nonetheless, functional paradox arises in fishes from contradictory observations on level of leptin during fasting and re-feeding. In addition, leptin is shown to modulate metabolic functions in fishes, reptiles, birds and mammals. Leptin also regulates reproductive and immune functions though more studies are warranted in non-mammalian vertebrates. The expression of leptin and its receptor is influenced by numerous factors including sex steroids, stress and stress-induced catecholamines and glucocorticoids though their effect in non-mammalian vertebrates is hard to be generalized due to limited studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrita Bakshi
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Rajeev Singh
- Satyawati College, University of Delhi, Delhi 110052, India
| | - Umesh Rai
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India.
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Parker CG, Cheung E. Metabolic control of teleost reproduction by leptin and its complements: Understanding current insights from mammals. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2020; 292:113467. [PMID: 32201232 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Reproduction is expensive. Hence, reproductive physiology is sensitive to an array of endogenous signals that provide information on metabolic and nutritional sufficiency. Although metabolic gating of reproductive function in mammals, as evidenced by studies demonstrating delayed puberty and perturbed fertility, has long been understood to be a function of energy sufficiency, an understanding of the endocrine regulators of this relationship have emerged only within recent decades. Peripheral signals including leptin and cortisol have long been implicated in the physiological integration of metabolism and reproduction. Recent studies have begun to explore possible roles for these two hormones in the regulation of reproduction in teleost fishes, as well as a role for leptin as a catabolic stress hormone. In this review, we briefly explore the reproductive actions of leptin and cortisol in mammals and teleost fishes and possible role of both hormones as putative modulators of the reproductive axis during stress events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coltan G Parker
- Neuroscience Program, Beckman Institute of Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Eugene Cheung
- Department of Biological Sciences, David Clark Labs, 100 Brooks Avenue, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
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Montalbano G, Levanti M, Abbate F, Laurà R, Cavallaro M, Guerrera MC, Germanà A. Expression of ghrelin and leptin in the chemosensory system of adult zebrafish. Ann Anat 2020; 229:151460. [PMID: 31978567 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2020.151460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Numerous data show that the chemosensory system seems to be modulated by changes in the circulating levels of different molecules such as ghrelin, orexin, leptin, NPY, CCK. The chemosensory system of the zebrafish is represented by the taste buds (skin, oral and oropharyngeal), the olfactory rosette and the solitary chemosensorial cells (SCCs). The purpose of our study was to analyze the distribution of two peripheral hormones such as ghrelin and leptin in the chemosensory organs of the zebrafish. Our results demonstrated the presence of immunoreaction for all antibodies used in the zebrafish chemosensory organs even if with different distribution. In particular, IR was observed for ghrelin in the olfactory rosette while IR for leptin was found in the olfactory rosette, in the skin and oropharyngeal taste buds and in the gills. Both these hormones were detected in the intestine, used as a control.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Montalbano
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Neuromorphology Lab, Italy
| | - M Levanti
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Neuromorphology Lab, Italy.
| | - F Abbate
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Neuromorphology Lab, Italy
| | - R Laurà
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Neuromorphology Lab, Italy
| | - M Cavallaro
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Neuromorphology Lab, Italy
| | - M C Guerrera
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Neuromorphology Lab, Italy
| | - A Germanà
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Neuromorphology Lab, Italy
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Xu Y, Zhang Y, Wang B, Liu X, Liu Q, Song X, Shi B, Ren K. Leptin and leptin receptor genes in tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis): Molecular cloning, tissue distribution and differential regulation of these genes by sex steroids. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2018; 224:11-22. [PMID: 29852254 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2018.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Leptin (Lep) is a key factor for the regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis in mammals. To date, a number of studies have provided evidence for the existence of multiple leptin genes in teleosts, but not much information is available in fish regarding the regulation of leptin genes by sex steriods. As a first step, two leptin genes (lepa and lepb) and a leptin receptor (lepr) gene were cloned from the half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis), a representative species of the order Pleuronectiformes. The full-length cDNAs of tongue sole lepa and lepb were 1265 bp and 1157 bp in length, encoding for proteins of 160 aa and 158 aa, respectively. The three-dimensional structures modeling of tongue sole LepA and LepB showed strong conservation of tertiary structure with other vertebrates. The full-length cDNA of tongue sole lepr was 4576 bp, encoding a protein of 1133 aa which contained all functionally important domains conserved among vertebrate LepRs. Tissue distribution analysis showed that tongue sole lepa mRNA was highly detectable in the ovary and brain, while lepb mRNA was ubiquitously expressed in various tissues. Notably, the tongue sole lepr mRNA was most abundant in the ovary. Using a primary hepatocyte culture system, we evaluated the effects of sex steroids on lep/lepr gene expression. Both 17β-estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) inhibited hepatic lepa and lepr mRNAs without affecting lepb mRNA levels. In addition, T also suppressed growth hormone receptor 1 (ghr1), ghr2, and insulin-like growth factor 2 (igf-2) mRNA levels, and stimulated expression of igf-1 gene. On the other hand, none of these four genes were altered by E2. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of a direct and differential regulation of lep/lepr gene expression by sex steroids at the hepatocyte level of a flatfish, supporting that individual leptin peptide may possess different biological roles in teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjiang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yaxing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Xuezhou Liu
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China.
| | - Quan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Xuesong Song
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Bao Shi
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Kangli Ren
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
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van de Pol I, Flik G, Gorissen M. Comparative Physiology of Energy Metabolism: Fishing for Endocrine Signals in the Early Vertebrate Pool. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2017; 8:36. [PMID: 28303116 PMCID: PMC5332387 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2017.00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Energy is the common currency of life. To guarantee a homeostatic supply of energy, multiple neuro-endocrine systems have evolved in vertebrates; systems that regulate food intake, metabolism, and distribution of energy. Even subtle (lasting) dysregulation of the delicate balance of energy intake and expenditure may result in severe pathologies. Feeding-related pathologies have fueled research on mammals, including of course the human species. The mechanisms regulating food intake and body mass are well-characterized in these vertebrates. The majority of animal life is ectothermic, only birds and mammals are endotherms. What can we learn from a (comparative) study on energy homeostasis in teleostean fishes, ectotherms, with a very different energy budget and expenditure? We present several adaptation strategies in fish. In recent years, the components that regulate food intake in fishes have been identified. Although there is homology of the major genetic machinery with mammals (i.e., there is a vertebrate blueprint), in many cases this does not imply analogy. Although both mammals and fish must gain their energy from food, the expenditure of the energy obtained is different. Mammals need to spend vast amounts of energy to maintain body temperature; fishes seem to utilize a broader metabolic range to their advantage. In this review, we briefly discuss ecto- and endothermy and their consequences for energy balance. Next, we argue that the evolution of endothermy and its (dis-)advantages may explain very different strategies in endocrine regulation of energy homeostasis among vertebrates. We follow a comparative and evolutionary line of thought: we discuss similarities and differences between fish and mammals. Moreover, given the extraordinary radiation of teleostean fishes (with an estimated number of 33,400 contemporary species, or over 50% of vertebrate life forms), we also compare strategies in energy homeostasis between teleostean species. We present recent developments in the field of (neuro)endocrine regulation of energy balance in teleosts, with a focus on leptin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris van de Pol
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Gert Flik
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Gert Flik,
| | - Marnix Gorissen
- Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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Deck CA, Honeycutt JL, Cheung E, Reynolds HM, Borski RJ. Assessing the Functional Role of Leptin in Energy Homeostasis and the Stress Response in Vertebrates. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2017; 8:63. [PMID: 28439255 PMCID: PMC5384446 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2017.00063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptin is a pleiotropic hormone that plays a critical role in regulating appetite, energy metabolism, growth, stress, and immune function across vertebrate groups. In mammals, it has been classically described as an adipostat, relaying information regarding energy status to the brain. While retaining poor sequence conservation with mammalian leptins, teleostean leptins elicit a number of similar regulatory properties, although current evidence suggests that it does not function as an adipostat in this group of vertebrates. Teleostean leptin also exhibits functionally divergent properties, however, possibly playing a role in glucoregulation similar to what is observed in lizards. Further, leptin has been recently implicated as a mediator of immune function and the endocrine stress response in teleosts. Here, we provide a review of leptin physiology in vertebrates, with a particular focus on its actions and regulatory properties in the context of stress and the regulation of energy homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney A. Deck
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Jamie L. Honeycutt
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Eugene Cheung
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Hannah M. Reynolds
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Russell J. Borski
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- *Correspondence: Russell J. Borski,
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Xie F, Li X, Huang S, Li J, Guo X, Cao Y. Identification of a soluble leptin receptor in crucian carp with different binding affinity to leptin-a and leptin-b. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2016; 191:108-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2015.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Chen T, Chen S, Ren C, Hu C, Tang D, Yan A. Two isoforms of leptin in the White-clouds Mountain minnow (Tanichthys albonubes): Differential regulation by estrogen despite similar response to fasting. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2016; 225:174-184. [PMID: 26386182 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Revised: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 08/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Leptin has been well-established as a canonical anorexic peptide hormone in mammals, though much of its function in fish remains obscure. In this study, the cDNAs of two leptin isoforms (leptin-A and leptin-B) were cloned from the liver of a small cyprinid fish, Tanichthys albonubes. The two T. albonubes leptins, sharing low primary amino acid sequence homology with their mammalian counterparts, and between themselves, are highly conserved in three-dimensional protein structures and gene structures. Liver is a major source of leptin mRNA in T. albonubes with leptin-A being the dominant form. The expression of hepatic leptin-A but not leptin-B mRNA in female fish is significantly higher than in male fish. Transcriptional hepatic levels of leptin-A and leptin-B in both male and female fish were demonstrated to increase after long-term fasting (10-25days) but decline upon re-feeding (3days). Strikingly, estrogen (E2) administration induced only leptin-A but not leptin-B hepatic mRNA expression in both male and female fish. Our study here provides the first evidence for differential regulation of two leptins in fish, and sheds new light on the possible origin of leptin in lower vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology (LMB), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology (LAMB), South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Shuang Chen
- Department of Anatomy, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Chunhua Ren
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology (LMB), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology (LAMB), South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Chaoqun Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology (LMB), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology (LAMB), South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, Guangzhou, China.
| | | | - Aifen Yan
- College of Medicine, Foshan University, Foshan, China.
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Ohga H, Matsumori K, Kodama R, Kitano H, Nagano N, Yamaguchi A, Matsuyama M. Two leptin genes and a leptin receptor gene of female chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus): Molecular cloning, tissue distribution and expression in different obesity indices and pubertal stages. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2015; 222:88-98. [PMID: 26065595 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2014] [Revised: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Leptin is a hormone produced by fat cells that regulates the amount of fat stored in the body and conveys nutritional status to the reproductive axis in mammals. In the present study we identified two subtypes of leptin genes (lepa and lepb) and a leptin receptor gene (lepr) from chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) and there gene expression under different feeding conditions (control and high-feed) and pubertal development stages was analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR. The protein lengths of LepA, LepB and LepR were 161 amino acids (aa), 163 aa and 1149 aa, respectively and both leptin subtypes shared only 15% similarity in aa sequences. In pubertal females, lepa was expressed in the brain, pituitary gland, liver, adipose tissue and ovary; however, in adult (gonadal maturation after the second in the life) females, lepa was expressed only in the liver. lepb was expressed primarily in the brain of all fish tested and was expressed strongly in the adipose tissue of adults. lepr was characterized by expression in the pituitary. The high-feed group showed a high conditioning factor level; unexpectedly, hepatic lepa and brain lepr were significantly more weakly expressed compared with the control-feed group. Furthermore, the expression levels of lepa, lepb and lepr genes showed no significant differences between pre-pubertal and post-pubertal fish. On the other hand, pituitary fshβ and lhβ showed no significant differences between different feeding groups of pre-pubertal fish. In contrast, fshβ and lhβ expressed abundantly in the post-pubertal fish of control feed group. Based on these results, whether leptin plays an important role in the nutritional status and pubertal onset of chub mackerel remains unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirofumi Ohga
- Laboratory of Marine Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
| | - Kojiro Matsumori
- Laboratory of Marine Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
| | - Ryoko Kodama
- Laboratory of Marine Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
| | - Hajime Kitano
- Fisheries Research Institute of Karatsu, Kyushu University, Saga 847-0132, Japan
| | - Naoki Nagano
- Fisheries Research Institute of Karatsu, Kyushu University, Saga 847-0132, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yamaguchi
- Laboratory of Marine Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
| | - Michiya Matsuyama
- Laboratory of Marine Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
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Volkoff H. Cloning, tissue distribution and effects of fasting on mRNA expression levels of leptin and ghrelin in red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2015; 217-218:20-7. [PMID: 25980684 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2014] [Revised: 04/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
cDNAs encoding the appetite regulating peptides leptin and ghrelin were isolated in red-bellied piranha (Characiforme, Serrasalmidae) and their mRNA tissue and brain distributions examined. When compared to other fish, the sequences obtained for all peptides were most similar to that of other Characiforme fish and Siluriformes. All peptides were widely expressed within the brain and in several peripheral tissues, including gastrointestinal tract. In order to better understand the role of these peptides in the regulation of feeding of red-bellied piranha, the mRNA expression levels of leptin and ghrelin were examined in both brain and intestine, in fed and 7-day fasted fish. No significant differences in expression were seen in whole brain for either peptide. Within the intestine, there was a decrease in leptin mRNA expression and an increase in ghrelin mRNA expression in fasted fish, compared to fed fish. The results suggest that leptin and ghrelin might play a major role in the regulation of feeding and energy homeostasis of red-bellied piranha and this role might be more prominent in the intestine than in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Volkoff
- Departments of Biology and Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada.
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Morini M, Pasquier J, Dirks R, van den Thillart G, Tomkiewicz J, Rousseau K, Dufour S, Lafont AG. Duplicated leptin receptors in two species of eel bring new insights into the evolution of the leptin system in vertebrates. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0126008. [PMID: 25946034 PMCID: PMC4422726 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Since its discovery in mammals as a key-hormone in reproduction and metabolism, leptin has been identified in an increasing number of tetrapods and teleosts. Tetrapods possess only one leptin gene, while most teleosts possess two leptin genes, as a result of the teleost third whole genome duplication event (3R). Leptin acts through a specific receptor (LEPR). In the European and Japanese eels, we identified two leptin genes, and for the first time in vertebrates, two LEPR genes. Synteny analyses indicated that eel LEPRa and LEPRb result from teleost 3R. LEPRb seems to have been lost in the teleost lineage shortly after the elopomorph divergence. Quantitative PCRs revealed a wide distribution of leptins and LEPRs in the European eel, including tissues involved in metabolism and reproduction. Noticeably, leptin1 was expressed in fat tissue, while leptin2 in the liver, reflecting subfunctionalization. Four-month fasting had no impact on the expression of leptins and LEPRs in control European eels. This might be related to the remarkable adaptation of silver eel metabolism to long-term fasting throughout the reproductive oceanic migration. In contrast, sexual maturation induced differential increases in the expression of leptins and LEPRs in the BPG-liver axis. Leptin2 was strikingly upregulated in the liver, the central organ of the reproductive metabolic challenge in teleosts. LEPRs were differentially regulated during sexual maturation, which may have contributed to the conservation of the duplicated LEPRs in this species. This suggests an ancient and positive role of the leptin system in the vertebrate reproductive function. This study brings new insights on the evolutionary history of the leptin system in vertebrates. Among extant vertebrates, the eel represents a unique case of duplicated leptins and leptin receptors as a result of 3R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Morini
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, Research Unit BOREA, Biology of Aquatic Organisms and Ecosystems, CNRS 7208, IRD207, UPMC, UCBN, Paris, France
| | - Jérémy Pasquier
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, Research Unit BOREA, Biology of Aquatic Organisms and Ecosystems, CNRS 7208, IRD207, UPMC, UCBN, Paris, France
| | - Ron Dirks
- ZF-screens B.V., Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Guido van den Thillart
- ZF-screens B.V., Leiden, The Netherlands
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jonna Tomkiewicz
- Technical University of Denmark, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Charlottenlund, Denmark
| | - Karine Rousseau
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, Research Unit BOREA, Biology of Aquatic Organisms and Ecosystems, CNRS 7208, IRD207, UPMC, UCBN, Paris, France
| | - Sylvie Dufour
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, Research Unit BOREA, Biology of Aquatic Organisms and Ecosystems, CNRS 7208, IRD207, UPMC, UCBN, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Gaëlle Lafont
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, Research Unit BOREA, Biology of Aquatic Organisms and Ecosystems, CNRS 7208, IRD207, UPMC, UCBN, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
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16
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Volkoff H. Cloning and tissue distribution of appetite-regulating peptides in pirapitinga (Piaractus brachypomus
). J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2015; 99:987-1001. [DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. Volkoff
- Departments of Biology and Biochemistry; Memorial University of Newfoundland; St. John's NL Canada
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