Leptin stimulated C-Reactive Protein production by Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells.

Obesity and cardiovascular disease are closely related. Leptin, an adipocyte-produced hormone, is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Increased plasma levels of leptin are measurable in the plasma of obese individuals. However, the possible links between obesity and cardiovascular disease are not completely understood. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a predictor of future cardiovascular events and plays a role in the athero-thrombotic disease. Thus, we evaluated whether leptin might play a role in cardiovascular disease, investigating its effects on CRP production by human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) in culture. Methods and Results. Leptin induced CRP-mRNA transcription as demonstrated by semi-quantitative and by real time PCR and release of CRP in the culture medium in a dose dependent fashion. Leptin-induced production of CRP was mediated through the Rho A-activation of PKC-β since both PKC and RhoA pathway inhibitors prevented these leptin effects. Lovastatin, a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, by modulating the Rho A activation, significantly reduced leptin-induced CRP production. Conclusions. This study describes the close relationship existing between leptin and CRP, providing support to the view that this adipokine, besides being involved in the pathophysiology of obesity, might play a relevant role also as a link-partaker among obesity, inflammation and atherothrombosis.