title: A mutation in the human leptin receptor gene causes obesity and pituitary dysfunction.
abstract: The adipocyte-specific hormone leptin, the product of the obese (ob) gene, regulates adipose-tissue mass through hypothalamic effects on satiety and energy expenditure. Leptin acts through the leptin receptor, a single-transmembrane-domain receptor of the cytokine-receptor family. In rodents, homozygous mutations in genes encoding leptin or the leptin receptor cause early-onset morbid obesity, hyperphagia and reduced energy expenditure. These rodents also show hypercortisolaemia, alterations in glucose homeostasis, dyslipidaemia, and infertility due to hypogonadotropic hypogonadisms. In humans, leptin deficiency due to a mutation in the leptin gene is associated with early-onset obesity. Here we describe a homozygous mutation in the human leptin receptor gene that results in a truncated leptin receptor lacking both the transmembrane and the intracellular domains. In addition to their early-onset morbid obesity, patients homozygous for this mutation have no pubertal development and their secretion of growth hormone and thyrotropin is reduced. These results indicate that leptin is an important physiological regulator of several endocrine functions in humans.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Nutrition et Service de Médecine et Nutrition, Hôtel-Dieu place du Parvis Notre Dame, Paris, France.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Clément
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vaisse
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lahlou
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cabrol
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pelloux
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cassuto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gourmelen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dina
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chambaz
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lacorte
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basdevant
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bougnères
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lebouc
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Froguel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guy-Grand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006720:Homozygote; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics*; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054411:Receptors, Leptin
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; C515448:LEPR protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone