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Hormonal regulation of human leptin in vivo: effects of hydrocortisone and insulin

International Journal of Obesity volume 24, pages 1254–1259 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of continuous i.v. infusion of hydrocortisone or insulin on leptin secretion in humans.

SUBJECTS: Six, nonfasting healthy adults (four women, two men), aged (mean±s.e.m.) 36.6±1.7 y; body mass index (BMI) 27.6±0.9 kg/m2.

DESIGN: Randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, with a 2-week ‘wash-out’ period.

INTERVENTIONS: Intravenous infusion of hydrocortisone (3.3 μg/(kg min)), insulin (1 mU/(kg min)) or normal saline (placebo) for 24 h.

MEASUREMENTS: Blood sampling every 1–2 h for measurement of glucose, insulin, cortisol and leptin; subcutaneous abdominal fat biopsy for determination of leptin mRNA expression.

RESULTS: Plasma cortisol increased to 50.0±0.4 μg/dl during hydrocortisone infusion, but was unaltered during saline or insulin infusion. The plasma insulin levels were: 28.5±4.7 μU/ml (placebo), 40.8±9.2 μU/ml (hydrocortisone, P=0.214), and 243±23.0 μU/ml (insulin, P=0.0002). Peak hyperleptinemia occurred after 16 h of insulin and 20 h of hydrocortisone infusion; peak/baseline plasma leptin levels (ng/ml) were 18.2±4.2/15.1±3.3 (placebo, P=0.056), 42.1±7.0/16.0±3.8 (hydrocortisone,+163%, P=0.008) and 30.2±4.3/16.6±2.7 (insulin,+83%, P=0.024). Adipocyte leptin mRNA increased by 350% after the hydrocortisone infusion.

CONCLUSION: Hydrocortisone, a natural glucocorticoid, induces hyperleptinemia in vivo, with a potency greater than that of insulin. The interaction between glucocorticoids and leptin may be of metabolic significance in humans.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by American Diabetes Association Clinical Research Grant and USPHS grants MOl RR00036 and P60 DK20579. The authors are grateful to Caroline Havlin-Cryer, RN, Norma Janes, RD, and the entire nursing and dietetic staff at the Washington University GCRC for excellent support during the conducting of these studies.

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  1. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA

    H Askari, J Liu & S Dagogo-Jack

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Correspondence to S Dagogo-Jack.

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Askari, H., Liu, J. & Dagogo-Jack, S. Hormonal regulation of human leptin in vivo: effects of hydrocortisone and insulin. Int J Obes 24, 1254–1259 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801379

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