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Current Pharmaceutical Design

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ISSN (Print): 1381-6128
ISSN (Online): 1873-4286

Leptin, Immune Responses and Autoimmune Disease. Perspectives on the Use of Leptin Antagonists

Author(s): F. Peelman, H. Iserentant, S. Eyckerman, L. Zabeau and J. Tavernier

Volume 11, Issue 4, 2005

Page: [539 - 548] Pages: 10

DOI: 10.2174/1381612053382070

Price: $65

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Abstract

The pivotal role of leptin in regulating body weight and energy homeostasis is very well established. More recently, leptin also emerged as an important regulator of T-cell-dependent immunity. Reduced leptin levels, as observed during periods of starvation, correlate with an impaired cellular immune response, whereby especially the TH1 proinflammatory immune response appears to be affected. Physiologically, this could reflect the high energy demand of such processes, which are suppressed in animals or people with nutrient shortage. Several autoimmune diseases are TH1 T-cell dependent. In line with a pro-inflammatory role for leptin, animal models of leptin deficiency are markedly resistant to a variety of T-cell dependent autoimmune diseases. Here, we review the role of leptin in immune responses, with emphasis on autoimmune diseases. The design and potential use of leptin antagonists is also discussed.

Keywords: cytokine, immune system, infectious diseases, natural killer (nk) cells


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