Adiponectin (Acrp30) is a physiologically active polypeptide hormone secreted by adipose tissue that shows insulin-sensitizing, antiinflammatory, and antiatherogenic properties. In humans, Acrp30 levels are inversely related to the degree of adiposity. In the current study, we tested the long-term weight-reducing and insulin-enhancing effects of

Lactobacillus strain ADH is a bile-resistant, bacteriocin-producing human isolate that was phenotypically classified within the Lactobacillus acidophilus group. Total DNA and phage DNA extracted from strain ADH were separately digested with BclI and ligated with BclI-digested pGK12. Following electroporation of these ligation mixtures directly into strain ADH, electrotransformants were recovered at frequencies of 1.5 x 10(3) and 2.0 x 10(4)/micrograms of pGK12 for preparations of pGK12::phage DNA and pGK12::total DNA, respectively. Among the electrotransformants screened, 6 and 22% contained passenger DNA of either phage DNA or chromosomal origin, respectively, as determined by restriction-enzyme analyses and hybridization assays. Derivatives of pGK12 containing passenger DNA of chromosomal (pTRK120) or phage (pTRK121) origin and pTRK15 (native cryptic plasmid) were evaluated for use as species-specific probes. The strain ADH-derived probes hybridized primarily to members of the B-1 and B-2 lactobacilli homology groups and demonstrated strain-specific polymorphisms within these groups. Identical hybridization patterns were established for strain ADH and Lactobacillus gasseri VPI 6033 (ATCC 19992). Identification of DNA probes and establishment of a host-vector cloning system have facilitated our efforts to characterize the Lactobacillus chromosome and to distinguish between closely related species thought to be important inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract.

Most obese animal models, whether associated with genetic, diet-induced, or age-related obesity, display pronounced leptin resistance, rendering leptin supplement therapy ineffective in treating obesity. Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) has been recently used to invoke leptin-like signaling pathways, thereby circumventing leptin resistance. In the current study, we characterize immediate and long-term molecular events in the hypothalamus of rats exposed to the sustained ectopic expression of leptin, CNTF, or leukemia inhibitory factor, another neurocytokine of IL-6 family, all delivered centrally via a viral vector. The respective transgene-encoded ligands induced similar but not identical metabolic responses as assessed by the reduction in body weight gain and changes in food intake. To define molecular mechanisms of weight-reducing and anorexigenic action of cytokines, we have analyzed the gene expression profiles of 1300 brain-specific genes in the hypothalami of normal rats subjected to the prolonged cytokine action for 10 wk. We present evidence that constitutive expression of cytokines in the brain induces changes in gene expression characteristic of chronic inflammation leading to either temporal weight reduction (CNTF) or severe cachexia (leukemia inhibitory factor). Our results convey a cautionary note regarding potential use of the tested cytokines in therapeutic applications.

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