QUANTIFICATION OF THE FULL-LENGTH LEPTIN RECEPTOR (OB-RB) IN HUMAN BROWN AND WHITE ADIPOSE-TISSUE

Levels of expression of the leptin receptor (OB-R) splice variants hav e been studied in human omental white and perirenal brown adipose tiss ues by reverse transcription-PCR. The level of mRNA expression of the full length form (OB-Rb) was approximately 15% of that of the sum of a ll splice variants in white or brown adipose tissue. In an attempt to quantify the gene expression of OB-Rb in human white adipose tissue, a quantitative competitive PCR technique was developed, using oligonucl eotide primers designed for OB-Rb and an internal standard for a ''MIM IC'' competition strategy. The levels of expression of OB-Rb mRNA in t he omental fat of lean and obese patients were compared and no differe nce could be observed between the two groups. The quantitative RT-PCR technique allows for a fast and accurate measurement of the expression of the OB-Rb mRNA in small tissue samples.