TNF-α up-regulates protein level and cell surface expression of the leptin receptor by stimulating its export via a PKC-dependent mechanism.

Increasing evidence suggests that inflammation/cytokines may modulate hypothalamic responses to leptin, which is a key regulator of energy homeostasis and inflammatory/stress responses. We investigated a possible role of TNF-α, a key early mediator of inflammation, in regulating the expression and trafficking of the long-isoform leptin receptor (LEPRb), the primary mediator of leptin signaling, in cultured cells. We found that TNF-α in a wide range of concentrations up-regulated LEPRb protein level and soluble LEPR (sLEPR) release via ectodomain shedding of LEPRb in multiple cell types, including neuronal cells. TNF-α also acutely increased LEPRb cell surface expression and leptin-induced STAT3 phosphorylation. In contrast, TNF-α had no significant effects on the protein level or cell surface expression of several other transmembrane proteins, including the transferrin receptor and cadherin. The stimulatory effects of TNF-α on LEPRb cell surface expression and sLEPR release were not dependent on de novo protein synthesis or functional lysosomes but were blocked by brefeldin A, suggesting that an intact Golgi or continuous endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi transport of newly synthesized proteins is required for these effects. However, TNF-α did not increase the half-life of cell surface LEPRb. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF109203X abrogated the effects of TNF-α, whereas the pan-PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate mimicked the TNF-α effects. Taken together, our results suggest that TNF-α, via activation of PKC, regulates anterograde trafficking and/or degradation of LEPRb in the biosynthetic pathway, leading to concomitant increases in LEPRb protein level, cell surface expression, and sLEPR production. The finding that LEPRb cell surface expression and sLEPR production, key modulators of leptin sensitivity and bioavailability, are direct targets of TNF-α signaling could have a potentially important implication in the regulation of leptin signaling activity in different pathophysiological conditions as diverse as obesity and sepsis.