phosphorylated cytoplasmic domain at the ex-
treme terminus of OB-R
L
(35). Signal intensities
were quantified by imaging densitometry.
Immunoprecipitation assay for JAK phosphorylatio n
The level of JAK phosphorylation was deter-
mined at 30 min, the time at which maximal
phosphorylation by leptin occurred in LX-2 cells
(23). A 200-ml aliquot of the cell lysates was
incubated with a rabbit anti-p-JAK1 or p-JAK2
antibody (Biosource, Camarillo, CA) and then
immunoprecipitated with agarose hydrazide
beads as previously described (23). The immune
complexes (20 ml) were resolved by 12% SDS-
PAGE. Equal protein loading was controlled by
immunoblotting of the corresponding nonpho-
sphorylated JAK1 and JAK2, using the rabbit
antibodies against the respective proteins (Santa
Cruz Biotech). Signal intensities were quantified
by imaging densitometry.
Intracellular ROS and GSH determination
ROS and GSH were measured by stimulating LX-2
cells with leptin in the presence or absence of
catalase. Production of ROS was assessed by add-
ing the probe 2
0
,7
0
-dichlorodihydrofluorescin diace-
tate (DCFH-DA), obtained from molecular probes
(Eugene, OR), to LX-2 culture at a final concentra-
tion of 20 mM and incubating for 30 min in the
darkness following leptin treatment. In the cells, the
nonfluorescent DCFH is oxidized to the fluorescent
2
0
,7
0
-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) by ROS, mainly
peroxides, in the presence of peroxidases (36).
DCF fluorescence was measured 1 h after leptin,
the time shown before at which the fluorescence
peaked in LX-2 cells (23). The fluorescence was
measured at 488 nm for excitation and 525 for
emission in a spectrofluorometer. GSH levels in
LX-2 cells were measured using the Cayman’s GSH
assay kit according to the manufacturer’s instruc-
tion. Data are reported as nmol/mg protein.
ERKI/2 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation assays
The levels of ERK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation
by leptin were determined at 2 h, the time shown
to be associated with maximal phosphorylation in
LX-2 cells (23). Phosphorylation was analyzed by
Western blots, using the components provided in
the PhosphoPlus p38 MAPK and ERKl/2
MAPK antibody kits (Cell Signaling Technology,
Beverly, MA) as previously described (23).
ERK1/2 phosphorylation was detected using a
rabbit phospho-ERK1/2 (Thr-202/Tyr-204) anti-
body and that of p38 was assayed using a rabbit
phospho-p38 (Thr-180/Tyr-182) antibody. Im-
munoblotting of total (phosphorylated and non-
phosphorylated) ERK1/2 and p38 was used as
control for equal protein loading.
Transfection of TIMP-l promoter and chloramphenicol
acetyltransferase (CAT) assay
The activity of the TIMP-1 promoter was assessed
using the CAT reporter plasmid (pBLCAT3) con-
taining nucleotides 102 to 96 (minimal promoter)
of the human TIMP-1 gene (37), which was kindly
provided by Dr. D. A. Mann of Southampton
General Hospital, Southampton, UK. Transient
transfection of LX-2 cells was performed, as pre-
viously described (23), with the LipofectAminet kit
as per the manufacturer’s protocol (Invitrogen,
Carlsbad, CA) using 320 ng of the reporter plasmid
DNA or the promoterless pBLCAT3. Transfected
cellsweretreatedwithleptinintheabsenceor
presence of catalase, SB203580, PD098059, or
DLPC1SAMe for 24 h. CAT activity was assayed
using the CAT ELISA kit and following the
manufacturer’s protocol (Roche Mol Biochem,
Indianapolis, IN). The sensitivity of the assay was
50 pg/ml. Data are reported as ng/mg protein.
TIMP-l mRNA stability determination
To assess whether p38, ERK1/2, catalase and
DLPC1SAMe affect TIMP-l mRNA stability at
the posttranscriptional level, LX-2 cells were trea-
tedwithleptinfor24htoinduceTIMP-lmRNA.
This was followed by actinomycin D (10 mg/ml)
treatment for 20 min to block the transcription
(23). The culture medium was changed and fresh
medium containing SB203580, PD098059, cata-
lase, or DLPC1SAMe was added. After 2, 8, and
12 h of incubation, total RNA from LX-2 cells was
isolated for Northern blot analysis of TIMP-l
mRNA levels, and the decay time course in the
absence or presence of the inhibitors was analyzed.
Statistics
Data are reported as means SEM. The signifi-
cance of difference between means was analyzed
using analysis of variance followed by Student–
Newman Keuls tests. Po0.05 was considered to
be significant.
Results
Up-regulation of TIMP-1 mRNA by leptin: effect of serum
and inhibition by different concentrations of DLPC or
SAMe
Figure 1A shows that the basal level of TIMP-1
mRNA in serum-starved LX-2 cells was compar-
223
DLPC and SAMe prevent H
2
O
2
and TIMP-1