Associations of serum leptin levels with intra-articular inflammatory cytokine levels in acute arthritic and nonarthritic knees of mice

Background : The roles of serum leptin in knee joint inflammation are unclear. The objective of this study was to identify any associations of serum leptin level with intra-articular inflammatory cytokine levels in acute arthritic and nonarthritic knees of mice. Methods : Acute arthritis was induced by intra-articular injection of 2% carrageenan. Three groups (leptin-deficient ob/ob, wild-type (WT) and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed WT) were made. Serum leptin and inflammatory cytokines in the infrapatellar fat pad and synovium were measured before and 24 hr after injection. Affected knee joints were excised for histology 24 hr after injection. Results : The HFD-WT group had significantly higher serum leptin than the ob/ob and WT groups before and after carrageenan injection. The HFD-WT group had significantly higher IL-1β and IL-6 in the infrapatellar fat pad and synovium than ob/ob and WT before injection but significantly lower IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α than the ob/ob group at 24 hr. Conclusions : Hyperleptinemia induced by a HFD is involved in low-grade intra-articular inflammation in nonarthritic knee joints. In contrast, leptin deficiency causes excessive intra-articular inflammation in carrageenan-induced acute arthritis. Leptin alleviates acute arthritis, while chronic hyperleptinemia is involved in low-grade inflammation in normal knee joints.