title: Leptin and its receptors.
abstract: Leptin is mainly produced in the white adipose tissue before being secreted into the blood and transported across the blood-brain barrier. Leptin binds to a specific receptor (LepR) that has numerous subtypes (LepRa, LepRb, LepRc, LepRd, LepRe, and LepRf). LepRb, in particular, is expressed in several brain nuclei, including the arcuate nucleus, the paraventricular nucleus, and the dorsomedial, lateral and ventromedial regions of the hypothalamus. LepRb is also co-expressed with several neuropeptides, including proopiomelanocortin, neuropeptide Y, galanin, galanin-like peptide, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, tyrosine hydroxylase and neuropeptide W. Functionally, LepRb induces activation of the JAK2/ERK, /STAT3, /STAT5 and IRS/PI3 kinase signaling cascades, which are important for the regulation of energy homeostasis and appetite in mammals. In this review, we discuss the structure, genetics and distribution of the leptin receptors, and their role in cell signaling mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirako
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan; Department of Physical Education, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Takenoya
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan; Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Care, Kiryu University, 606-7 Kasakakecho Azami, Midori City 379-2392, Gunma, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kageyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan; Tokyo Shokuryo Dietitian Academy, Tokyo 154-0001, Japan.
authors.forename: Mai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan. Electronic address: shioda@med.showa-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shioda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin; D054411:Receptors, Leptin
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D054411:Receptors, Leptin
keywords: JAK-STAT; Leptin; Leptin receptor; Neuropeptide; db Gene; ob Gene