Title:Leptin and Its Derivatives: A Potential Target for Autoimmune Diseases
Volume: 20
Issue: 15
Author(s): Han Han and Weiqiang Zhou*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Shenyang Medical College, No.146 North Huanghe St. Huanggu Dis. Shenyang City, Liaoning Pro 110034,China
Keywords:
leptin, immune response, autoimmune diseases, adipocyte-derived, obese (ob) gene, dendritic cells.
Abstract: Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone product of the obese (ob) gene. Leptin plays an
important regulatory role as an immunomodulatory factor in the maintenance and homeostasis of immune
functions. Indeed, the role of leptin as an immunomodulator in inflammatory and immune responses
has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Leptin mostly affects responses through the
immunomodulation of monocytes, dendritic cells, neutrophils, NK cells, and dendritic cells in addition
to modulating T and B cell development and functions. Leptin is also an important inflammatory regulator,
wherein higher expression influences the secretion rates of IL-6, C-reactive proteins, and TNF-α.
Moreover, leptin is highly involved in processes related to human metabolism, inflammatory reactions,
cellular development, and diseases, including hematopoiesis. Owing to its diverse immunerelated
functions, leptin has been explored as a potential target for therapeutic development in the
treatment of autoimmune diseases.