title: Leptin: molecular mechanisms, systemic pro-inflammatory effects, and clinical implications.
abstract: Leptin, the adipokine produced mainly by the white adipose tissue, plays important roles not only in the regulation of food intake, but also in controlling immunity and inflammation. It has been widely demonstrated that the absence of leptin leads to immune defects in animal and human models, ultimately increasing mortality. Leptin also regulates inflammation by means of actions on its receptor, that is widely spread across different immune cell populations. The molecular mechanisms by which leptin determines its biological actions have also been recently elucidated, and three intracellular pathways have been implicated in leptin actions: JAK-STAT, PI3K, and ERK 1/2. These pathways are closely regulated by intracellular proteins that decrease leptin biological activity. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms by which leptin regulates immunity and inflammation, and associate those mechanisms with chronic inflammatory disorders.
authors: Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. gilberto.pazfilho@anu.edu.au
authors: Gilberto
authors: G
authors: Paz-Filho
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Mastronardi
authors: Carina Bertoldi
authors: CB
authors: Franco
authors: Kevin Boyang
authors: KB
authors: Wang
authors: Ma-Li
authors: ML
authors: Wong
authors: Julio
authors: J
authors: Licinio
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000502:physiology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000502:physiology; D020738:Leptin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D020738:Leptin; D054411:Receptors, Leptin