The role of leptin in innate and adaptive immune responses.
Leptin is produced primarily by adipocytes and functions in a feedback loop regulating body weight. Leptin deficiency results in severe obesity and a variety of endocrine abnormalities in animals and humans. Several studies indicated that leptin plays an important role in immune responses. It exerts protective anti-inflammatory effects in models of acute inflammation and during activation of innate immune responses. In contrast, leptin stimulates T lymphocyte responses, thus having rather a proinflammatory role in experimental models of autoimmune diseases. Clinical studies have so far yielded inconsistent results, suggesting a rather complex role for leptin in immune-mediated inflammatory conditions in humans.
Bernotiene
Eiva
E
Department of Experimental Research, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Palmer
Gaby
G
Gabay
Cem
C
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020738:Leptin / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology
D020738:Leptin