title: Obesity hypertension: pathophysiological role of leptin in neuroendocrine dysregulation.
abstract: Leptin is a 16-kDa peptide hormone that is primarily synthesized and secreted by adipose tissue. One of the major actions of this hormone is the control of energy balance by binding to receptors in the hypothalamus, leading to reduction in food intake, elevation in temperature and energy expenditure. In addition, increasing evidence suggests that leptin, through both direct and indirect mechanisms, may play an important role in cardiovascular and renal regulation. Although the relevance of endogenous leptin needs further clarification, it appears to function as a pressure- and volume-regulating factor under conditions of health. However, in abnormal situations characterized by chronic hyperleptinemia such as obesity, it may function pathophysiologically for the development of hypertension and possibly also for direct renal, vascular and cardiac damage.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine (OG, RS, KL, DV), State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York; Veterans Affairs Medical Center (OG, KL, DV), Syracuse, New York; and Departments of Internal Medicine and Physiology (RHF, GPR), University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri.
authors: Orson
authors: O
authors: Go
authors: Ronald H
authors: RH
authors: Freeman
authors: Garry P
authors: GP
authors: Reams
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Spear
authors: Kan
authors: K
authors: Liu
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Villarreal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin