Leptin levels are negatively correlated with 2-arachidonoylglycerol in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with osteoarthritis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

There is compelling evidence in humans that peripheral endocannabinoid signaling is disrupted in obesity. However, little is known about the corresponding central signaling. Here, we have investigated the relationship between gender, leptin, body mass index (BMI) and levels of the endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of primarily overweight to obese patients with osteoarthritis.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:

Patients (20 females, 15 males, age range 44-78 years, BMI range 24-42) undergoing total knee arthroplasty for end-stage osteoarthritis were recruited for the study. Endocannabinoids were quantified by liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry. AEA and 2-AG levels in the serum and CSF did not correlate with either age or BMI. However, 2-AG levels in the CSF, but not serum, correlated negatively with CSF leptin levels (Spearman's ρ -0.48, P=0.0076, n=30). No such correlations were observed for AEA and leptin.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:

In the patient sample investigated, there is a negative association between 2-AG and leptin levels in the CSF. This is consistent with pre-clinical studies in animals, demonstrating that leptin controls the levels of hypothalamic endocannabinoids that regulate feeding behavior.

• Authors: James Nicholson, Syed Azim, Mario J Rebecchi, William Galbavy, Tian Feng, Ruth Reinsel, Sabeen Rizwan, Christopher J Fowler, Helene Benveniste, Martin Kaczocha
• Journal: PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 10 Issue 4 Pg. e0123132 ( 2015) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25835291 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Arachidonic Acids
• Endocannabinoids
• Glycerides
• Leptin
• Polyunsaturated Alkamides
• glyceryl 2-arachidonate
• anandamide

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Arachidonic Acids (blood, cerebrospinal fluid)
• Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee
• Body Mass Index
• Chromatography, Liquid
• Endocannabinoids (blood, cerebrospinal fluid)
• Female
• Glycerides (blood, cerebrospinal fluid)
• Humans
• Leptin (blood)
• Male
• Mass Spectrometry
• Middle Aged
• Obesity (blood, cerebrospinal fluid)
• Osteoarthritis (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, surgery)
• Polyunsaturated Alkamides (blood, cerebrospinal fluid)