C/EBP-α, involvement of a novel transcription factor in leptin-induced VCAM-1 production in mouse chondrocytes

•Leptin induces C/EBP-α expression.•C/EBP-α regulates VCAM-1 expression by binding to a newly identified binding site in the VCAM-1 promoter region.•Leptin induces C/EBP-α-dependent VCAM-1 expression in chondrocytes. Leptin and vascular cell adhesion molecules-1 (VCAM-1) are two important mediators in obesity-related osteoarthritis, while the molecular mechanism linking leptin to VCAM-1 production is still obscure. Here we show that leptin upregulates VCAM-1 mRNA and protein levels in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, leptin induces VCAM-1 promoter activity by increasing the expression of C/EBP-α and facilitating its binding to a newly identified element in the VCAM-1 gene. Gain or loss of function studies reveal a regulatory role of C/EBP-α on VCAM-1 expression. Finally, elevated plasma leptin level correlates to increased C/EBP-α and VCAM-1 production in chondrocytes from obese mice.