Leptin and connective tissue growth factor in advanced glycation end‐product‐induced effects in NRK‐49F cells

Previously, we showed that Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) is important in advanced glycation end-product (AGE)-induced effects in renal interstitial (NRK-49F) fibroblasts. Leptin is a JAK2-activating cytokine via the long form leptin receptor (Ob-Rb). Leptin and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) may be involved in renal fibrosis. However, the relationship between leptin and CTGF in terms of AGE-induced effects remains unknown. Thus, the effects of AGE (150 microg/ml) and leptin on mitogenesis, CTGF and collagen expression in NRK-49F cells were determined. We found that leptin and AGE increased mitogenesis and type I collagen protein expression at 3 and 7 days, respectively. AGE increased leptin mRNA and protein expression at 2-3 days. AGE increased CTGF mRNA and protein expression at 3-5 days. AG-490 (JAK2 inhibitor) abrogated AGE-induced leptin mRNA and protein expression at 2-3 days. AG-490 and Ob-Rb anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) abrogated AGE-induced CTGF mRNA and protein expression at 3-5 days. AG-490 and CTGF anti-sense ODN abrogated AGE-induced mitogenesis and collagen protein expression at 7 days. Additionally, leptin dose (0.2-1 microg/ml) and time (1-2 days)-dependently increased CTGF protein expression. AG-490 abrogated leptin (1 microg/ml)-induced CTGF protein expression at 2 days. AG-490 and CTGF anti-sense ODN abrogated leptin-induced mitogenesis and collagen protein expression at 3 days. We concluded that AGE induced JAK2 to increase leptin while leptin induced JAK2 to increase CTGF-induced mitogenesis and type I collagen protein expression in NRK-49F cells. Additionally, AGE-induced mitogenesis and type I collagen protein expression were dependent on leptin-induced CTGF.