Title:Leptin in Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis
Volume: 20
Issue: 4
Author(s): Hui Wang, Wei Luo and Daniel T. Eitzman
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Obesity, atherothrombosis, STAT3, PI3K, leptin receptor.
Abstract: A world-wide obesity epidemic is threatening to have a major impact on the prevalence of chronic and acute vascular diseases.
In addition to weight loss interventions, which have met with modest success to date, it will be important to understand mechanisms by
which obesity promotes vascular disease processes. Studies of leptin, a hormone produced by the adipocyte, have supported the concept
that adipocyte-specific products may be mediating some of the vascular risk associated with obesity. This mini-review provides an overview
of some of the preclinical studies demonstrating causal relationships between leptin and vascular endpoints. Therapeutic strategies
designed to block leptin-mediated signaling events in cells contributing to vascular disease may prove beneficial in obese subjects at risk
for vascular complications.
