The Expression And Signification Of Leptin Gene And Protein In Orbital Adipose Tissues From Thyroid Associated Ophthalmopathy

ObjectivesThyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is an autoimmune disease characterized by an increase in the volume of adipose/connective tissues and extraocular muscles within the orbit. Adipocyte precursor cell, called preadipocyte fibroblast, can be induced to differentiate into cell with morphological features of mature adipocyte under appropriate in vitro conditions. Adipogenesis play an important role in the increase of adipose tissue volume, which is related to the exophthalmus and the overexpression of several adipocytokines. Leptin, a distinctive adipocytokine, may take part in the pathogenesis of TAO by some unknown mechanisms. The purpose of our study is mainly to detect the expression of leptin mRNA in the orbital adipose tissues and the differentiated adipocytes of TAO and normal subjects; to demonstrate the effects of TNF-α, IL-6 on the expression of leptin mRNA in the differentiated adipocytes of TAO subjects; to evaluate the effect of rh-leptin on the proliferation, migration of the preadipocyte fibroblasts and the lipid forming rate of the differentiated adipocytes of TAO subjects. We expect to investigate the status of leptin and the increased adipose tissue in TAO's pathogenesis, to look for certain ways to prevent and treat TAO. Methods...