A retinoid X receptor antagonist, HX531, improves leptin resistance without increasing plasma leptin level in KK-Ay mice under normal dietary conditions

4-(5H-2,3-(2,5-Dimethyl-2,5-hexano)-5-methyl-8-nitrodibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepin-11-yl)benzoic acid (HX531) is a novel retinoid X receptor antagonist. This study provides evidence that HX531 improves leptin resistance without increasing plasma leptin levels in KK-Ay mice, an animal model with high plasma leptin levels and leptin resistance. Under normal dietary conditions, 3 weeks of treatment with HX531 (0.03% and 0.06% food admixture) in KK-Ay mice decreased plasma leptin levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner, in addition to decreasing body weight and mesenteric fatty tissue weight. To evaluate the effect of HX531 on leptin resistance, leptin was injected intraperitoneally in the KK-Ay mice for 4 days after 1 week of treatment with HX531 (0.06% food admixture). This pretreatment with HX531 resulted in exogenously administered leptin causing a significant decrease in food intake. These results suggested that HX531 decreased plasma leptin levels accompanied by a decrease in fatty tissue content in the KK-Ay mice and a simultaneous improvement in leptin resistance. This is the first report that HX531 improves leptin resistance without increasing plasma leptin level in KK-Ay mice, under normal dietary conditions.