Expression of leptin and leptin receptor gene in the adipose tissue of obese patients

Objective To study the role of leptin and leptin receptor gene in the pathogenesis of obesity and insulin resistance. Methods Omental adipose tissues were obtained in 10 obese patients with hyperinsulinemia (BMI≥330 kg/m2, fasting blood insulin level20 mIU/ml) and 10 normal individuals (BMI25 kg/m2), and semi-quantitative RT-PCR was performed to compare leptin and leptin receptor gene expressions in the omental adipose tissue of the patients and in normal individuals. Results In the omental adipose tissue, both leptin and leptin receptor mRNA levels are higher in obese patients than in normal subjects (P0.01). Conclusion Leptin resistance may exist in obese patients.