title: Leptin Regulation of Immune Responses.
abstract: Leptin is a regulatory hormone with multiple roles in the immune system. We favor the concept that leptin signaling 'licenses' various immune cells to engage in immune responses and/or to differentiate. Leptin is an inflammatory molecule that is capable of activating both adaptive and innate immunity. It can also 'enhance' immune functions, including inflammatory cytokine production in macrophages, granulocyte chemotaxis, and increased Th17 proliferation. Leptin can also 'inhibit' cells; CD4(+) T cells are inhibited from differentiating into regulatory T cells in the presence of elevated leptin, while NK cells can exhibit impaired cytotoxicity under the same circumstances. Consequently, understanding the effect of leptin signaling is important to appreciate various aspects of immune dysregulation observed in malnutrition, obesity, and autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Unit, Atlantic Blvd, Serrekunda, Gambia. Electronic address: cnaylor@mrc.gm.
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naylor
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Petri
mesh_terms: D015551:Autoimmunity; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D020738:Leptin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; C539900:RORC protein, human; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
keywords: acquired immune system; innate; leptin regulation