González R R, Simón C, Caballero-Campo P, Norman R, Chardonnens D, Devoto L, Bischof P
Institute of Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), Hospital San Borja Arriaran, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Hum Reprod Update. 2000 May-Jun;6(3):290-300. doi: 10.1093/humupd/6.3.290.
Leptin, the product of the ob gene, is a small peptide molecule synthesized by white adipocytes with an important role in the regulation of body fat and food intake. Leptin and leptin receptor mRNA were first detected in the brain and hypothalamus but now their ubiquitous presence has been demonstrated. Leptin receptor signal transduction involves the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3, a member of the transcription family of proteins. Leptin is regulated by hormones and cytokines, interleukin-1, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and transforming growth factor-beta, linking this molecule with the inflammatory response. In addition, emerging evidence has demonstrated that this molecule is related to reproductive function. This small protein is present in the ovary and decidua, in mature oocytes and during embryonic development and trophoblast invasion. Animal models have demonstrated that leptin-deficient ob/ob mice are sterile; however, fertility can be restored by exogenous leptin. In addition, embryos implanted in STAT-3-deficient mice degenerate rapidly and are the target disruption of STAT-3-provoked embryonic lethality. Leptin acts as a novel placental hormone participating in the control of fetal growth and development. Leptin could be a modulator for invasive features of cytotrophoblast cells. We postulate that leptin may have an autocrine/paracrine role in human implantation and placentation.
瘦素是肥胖基因（ob基因）的产物，是一种由白色脂肪细胞合成的小肽分子，在调节体脂和食物摄入方面具有重要作用。瘦素和瘦素受体mRNA最初是在大脑和下丘脑被检测到的，但现在已证明它们广泛存在。瘦素受体信号转导涉及转录蛋白家族成员信号转导子和转录激活子（STAT）-3的激活。瘦素受激素和细胞因子、白细胞介素-1、肿瘤坏死因子-α和转化生长因子-β的调节，将该分子与炎症反应联系起来。此外，新出现的证据表明该分子与生殖功能有关。这种小蛋白存在于卵巢和蜕膜、成熟卵母细胞以及胚胎发育和滋养层侵入过程中。动物模型表明，缺乏瘦素的ob/ob小鼠不育；然而，外源性瘦素可恢复其生育能力。此外，植入STAT-3缺陷小鼠体内的胚胎会迅速退化，是STAT-3引发胚胎致死性的靶向破坏。瘦素作为一种新型胎盘激素参与胎儿生长发育的调控。瘦素可能是细胞滋养层细胞侵袭特性的调节剂。我们推测瘦素可能在人类着床和胎盘形成过程中发挥自分泌/旁分泌作用。
