title: Association between leptin and systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Leptin, the product of ob gene, is a 16-kDa nonglycosylated peptide hormone produced by adipocytes that regulates appetite and energy expenditure at the hypothalamic level. As is known to be a satiety factor that can regulate body weight by inhibiting food intake and stimulating energy expenditure, leptin is a pleiotropic hormone whose multiple effects include regulation of endocrine function, reproduction and immunity. Since leptin has been considered to be a pro-inflammatory cytokine, investigations of leptin in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases have been detected, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Recently, the role of leptin in the modulation of immune response and inflammation has been discussed in the autoimmune diseases increasingly but less in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Therefore, this article will focus on the current understanding of the role of leptin with such similar pathogenic mechanism in SLE in order to provide insights which may assist in the development of leptin-based approaches for the treatment of SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wang-Dong
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yu-Jing
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shan-Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hai-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Dong-Qing
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015551:Autoimmunity; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D020738:Leptin; D054411:Receptors, Leptin