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Huangshan Maofeng green tea (HMGT) is one of the most well-known green teas consumed for a thousand years in China. Research has demonstrated that consumption of green tea effectively improves metabolic disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms of obesity prevention are still not well understood. This study investigated the preventive effect and mechanism of long-term intervention of Huangshan Maofeng green tea water extract (HTE) on obesity-associated metabolic disorders in leptin receptor knockout (Lepr−/−) rats by using gut microbiota and hepatic lipidomics data. The Lepr−/− rats were administered with 700 mg/kg HTE for 24 weeks. Our results showed that HTE supplementation remarkably reduced excessive fat accumulation, as well as ameliorated hyperlipidemia and hepatic steatosis in Lepr−/− rats. In addition, HTE increased gut microbiota diversity and restored the relative abundance of the microbiota responsible for producing short chain fatty acids, including Ruminococcaceae, Faecalibaculum, Veillonellaceae, etc. Hepatic lipidomics analysis found that HTE significantly recovered glycerolipid and glycerophospholipid classes in the liver of Lepr−/− rats. Furthermore, nineteen lipid species, mainly from phosphatidylcholines (PCs), phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs), and triglycerides (TGs), were significantly restored increases, while nine lipid species from TGs and diglycerides (DGs) were remarkably recovered decreases by HTE in the liver of Lepr−/− rats. Our results indicated that prevention of obesity complication by HTE may be possible through maintaining homeostasis of gut microbiota and certain hepatic lipid classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 (E 2) and vitellogenin (Vtg) levels of female fish were significantly higher in ovaries at stage IV than in ovaries at stage II. Serum E 2 levels were significantly positively correlated with Vtg levels in female fish at different development stages, while serum E 2 was not correlated with Lep levels. Consistently, in vitro incubation of the liver with E 2 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. [Display omitted] • Lepa expression in Scatophagus argus increases during ovary maturation. • Serum leptin level is not correlated with serum estrogen level. • Estrogen in vitro incubation cannot up-regulate liver lepa. • Recombinant leptin up-regulates cGnRH and Lhb in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coilia nasus is a valuable commercial migratory fish species with ecological and economic importance in China. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the response to food intake, the stomach transcriptomes of feeding and non‐feeding C. nasus were analysed via RNA‐seq. A total of 610,640,864 clean reads were obtained, and annotation to six databases identified 63,567 unigenes. Comparative analysis of the gene expression in feeding and non‐feeding C. nasus identified 1,968 differentially expressed genes (p <.05), including 1,180 up‐regulated and 788 down‐regulated genes. Our results showed that stomach distention activated the vagal afferent neurons, resulting in satiation. Several of the most relevant appetite genes (e.g. leptin receptor [LepR], somatostatin [SS], nucleobindin‐2 [NUCB2], 5‐hydroxytryptamine receptor [5‐HTR], growth hormone receptor [GHR]) were also involved in the regulation of food intake and led to the termination of feeding. Furthermore, significant differences were observed in the genes encoding key enzymes involved in metabolism such as the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) pathways, fatty acid synthesis and glycolysis, indicating that C. nasus utilizes food for its energy and nutrient contents to support life and gonadal development. These findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying appetite and metabolic regulation in anadromous fish and create a foundation for further research on C. nasus artificial breeding and migration energetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the association of LEP and leptin receptor ( LEPR) gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs) with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE) in a Chinese population. Four LEP SNPs (rs11761556, rs12706832, rs2071045 and rs2167270) and nine LEPR SNPs (rs10749754, rs1137100, rs1137101, rs13306519, rs8179183, rs1805096, rs3790434, rs3806318 and rs7518632) were genotyped in a cohort of 633 patients with SLE and 559 healthy controls. Genotyping of SNPs was performed with improved multiple ligase detection reaction ( iMLDR). No significant differences were detected for the distribution of allele and genotype frequencies of all 13 SNPs between patients with SLE and controls. The genotype effects of recessive, dominant and additive models were also analysed, but no significant evidence for association was detected. However, further analysis in patients with SLE showed that the TT genotype and T allele frequencies of the LEP rs2071045 polymorphism were nominally significantly higher in patients with pericarditis ( P = 0.012, P = 0.011, respectively). In LEPR, the GA/ AA genotype and A allele frequencies of the rs1137100 polymorphism were both nominally associated with photosensitivity in patients with SLE ( P = 0.043, P = 0.018, respectively). Moreover, the genotype and allele distribution of rs3806318 were also nominally associated with photosensitivity in patients with SLE ( P = 0.013, P = 0.008, respectively). No significant differences in serum leptin levels were observed in patients with SLE with different genotypes. In summary, LEP and LEPR SNPs are not associated with genetic susceptibility to SLE, but may contribute to some specific clinical phenotype of this disease; further studies are necessary to elucidate the exact role of LEP and LEPR genes in the pathogenesis of SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have proposed leptin/leptin receptor (LEPR) pathway has a potential role in the oxidative stress induction as well as in immune and inflammatory responses; however, the effects of leptin/LEPR signaling on anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATLI) remain unexplored. Here, we aimed to investigate the potential relationships between LEPR polymorphisms and ATLI risk and clinical characteristics. In total, this prospective study included 745 tuberculosis subjects with isoniazid and rifampin co-administration from West China. Six candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in LEPR gene were genotyped by using a custom-by-design 48-Plex SNPscan kit. All subjects were monitored for six months to assess the occurrence of ATLI. Genetic association analysis at both the single-SNP and haplotype levels was performed. Significant SNPs were further explored in relation to clinical features and inflammatory response of ATLI cases. ATLI was identified in 118 of 745 subjects with a prevalence rate of 15.84%. Significant differences were observed in the allele and genotype distribution of LEPR rs2025804 in ATLI cases compared to non-ATLI controls (allele: OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.15–2.32, adjusted- p =.036; dominant model: OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.14–2.61, adjusted- p = 0.054; additive model: OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.15–2.34, adjusted- p = 0.036). Haplotype AA comprising of rs2025804 and rs2104564 was associated with a 1.58-fold increased predisposition to ATLI with p = 0.013. Furthermore, among ATLI patients, individuals carrying minor allele-containing genotypes in rs10889551, rs2025804 and rs2104564 loci had higher levels of C-reactive protein as compared to those homozygous major allele carriers, at p of 0.002, 0.057 and 0.012, respectively. Ours is the first study which shows that LEPR polymorphisms may increase the risk for ATLI and may influence the inflammatory response in ATLI patients among Western Chinese Han tuberculosis patients. • The first analysis between LEPR polymorphisms and ATLI predisposition and its clinical traits in West China. • ATLI was identified in 118 of 745 subjects with a prevalence rate of 15.84% from this prospective cohort study. • We revealed that rs2025804 A allele may increase the risk of ATLI in Western Chinese Han population. • This study showed for the first time among ATLI patients, rs10889551, rs2025804 and rs2104564 correlated with CRP levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]