title: Role of leptin in the activation of immune cells.
abstract: Adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ that secretes various humoral factors (adipokines), and its shift to production of proinflammatory cytokines in obesity likely contributes to the low-level systemic inflammation that may be present in metabolic syndrome-associated chronic pathologies such as atherosclerosis. Leptin is one of the most important hormones secreted by adipocytes, with a variety of physiological roles related to the control of metabolism and energy homeostasis. One of these functions is the connection between nutritional status and immune competence. The adipocyte-derived hormone leptin has been shown to regulate the immune response, innate and adaptive response, both in normal and pathological conditions. The role of leptin in regulating immune response has been assessed in vitro as well as in clinical studies. It has been shown that conditions of reduced leptin production are associated with increased infection susceptibility. Conversely, immune-mediated disorders such as autoimmune diseases are associated with increased secretion of leptin and production of proinflammatory pathogenic cytokines. Thus, leptin is a mediator of the inflammatory response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, University of Seville, Av Dr Fedriani 3, 41071 Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fernández-Riejos
authors.forename: Souad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Najib
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santos-Alvarez
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martín-Romero
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Pérez
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González-Yanes
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Margalet
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D054392:Adipokines / Q000276:immunology; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009765:Obesity / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D020738:Leptin