Reduced body weight, adipose tissue, and leptin levels despite increased energy intake in female mice lacking acylation-stimulating protein

Acylation-stimulating protein (ASP) is a potent lipogenic protein produced by adipocytes. In vitro studies have shown that ASP increases triglyceride synthesis and glucose transport in both murine and human adipocytes. Our in itial study indicated that complement C3-deficient (-/-) mice (and, therefo re, ASP deficient) demonstrated altered dietary postprandial triglyceride c learance. In the present study we examined the phenotype of female mice lon gitudinally on different diets. Female C3(-/-) mice on both low (10% of ene rgy) and high (40% of energy) fat diets displayed an average reduction in t otal body weight of 10.1 +/- 0.5% (P < 0.0003, by ANOVA) compared with the C3(+/+) Littermates. Reductions in white adipose tissue mass accounted for most of this weight difference (59% reduction; P < 0.01 on low fat diet). P lasma leptin levels were significantly reduced in C3(-/-) mice on both high (P < 0.001) and low fat diets (P < 0.01). This reduction was significant e ven after adjusting for the reduced body weight and body fat (P < 0.001). L eptin reductions in the C3(-/-) were greater on the high fat diet and were associated with increased food intake (18 +/- 2% increase; P < 0.001). Furt hermore, there was a decrease in basal glucose levels and basal insulin lev els [12.8% decrease in glucose at 14 weeks (HF; P < 0.05) and 41% decrease in insulin at 26 weeks (HF; P < 0.05)]. These in vivo experiments demonstra te that female mice lacking ASP have marked alterations of body weight, adi posity, plasma leptin, and plasma insulin levels. Decreased adiposity and l eptin levels occurred in the ASP-deficient animals despite increased energy intake, suggesting that energy expenditure was elevated in these animals. Thus, ASP appears to have an important role in the regulation of energy bal ance in mice.