出版社：Pakistan Society of Food Scientists and Technologists
摘要：Leptin, a protein secreted from fatty tissue, is believed to control fat accumulation in the body. It is secreted in pulsatile fashion like other hormones and its secretion rate depends on adipose tissues. Leptin is not the obesity but a starvation hormone. It works in body by binding with receptors called ob and stimulates the different signal transduction pathways especially those which contain these receptors. Defects in leptin receptors (db/db) or in leptin genes (ob/ob) may results in numerous metabolic abnormalities in human body and disrupt the normal physiology of body. Appropriate availability of leptin in adipose tissues plays much important role in regulating body functions like energy homeostasis, neuroendocrine function, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. Leptin responds differently with high and low energy states in body. Leptin receptors present on hypothalamus stimulate the nervous system to ensure energy homeostasis. Low levels of leptin affect the secretions of reproductive and thyroid hormones further causing complications in pregnancy and metabolic activities. Results from interventional studies in humans demonstrate that leptin administration in subjects with congenital leptin deficiency, lipoatrophy and women with hypothalamic amenorrhea reverses the energy homeostasis and neuroendocrine and metabolic abnormalities associated with these conditions. Furthermore, disturbance in leptin receptors or gene may contribute resistance in insulin functioning and metabolic syndromes. The stated functions can be managed by ensuring optimum levels of leptin in human body.
关键词：Leptin; obesity; energy homeostasis; insulin resistance; metabolic syndromes; neuroendocrine function
