A role for leptin in the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and in immune response, an update.
Leptin was originally identified as an adipocyte-derived cytokine with a key role in the regulation of the energy balance. Subsequent research revealed that leptin's biological action is not restricted to its effects on appetite and food intake, but instead has a much more pleiotropic character. There is now ample evidence that leptin has important functions in reproduction, hematopoiesis, HPA-axis endocrinology and angiogenesis. In this review we have focused on the effects of leptin in the antigen-specific immunity and in the inflammatory effector system.
Dept. of Pathology, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium. wim.waelput@ugent.be
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Waelput
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Brouckaert
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Broekaert
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J
Tavernier
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D000855:Anorexia / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000502:physiology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D020738:Leptin / Q000502:physiology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D013217:Starvation / Q000503:physiopathology; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000502:physiology
C515448:LEPR protein, human; D020738:Leptin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D000521:alpha-MSH; D008668:Metallothionein