Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
Hormones (Athens). 2011 Jan-Mar;10(1):16-26. doi: 10.14310/horm.2002.1289.
Leptin, the adipocyte derived hormone, has a pivotal role in regulating energy homeostasis and appetite. Beyond this essential role in bodyweight control, leptin also regulates the immune responses. Leptin has pro-inflammatory effects on T cell populations, shifting the T helper balance towards a TH1 phenotype, through induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and stimulation of macrophage and natural killer cell function. Acute starvation reduces serum leptin levels, resulting in an impaired cellular immune response. The TH1 pro-inflammatory immune response, a homeostatic response mediated by the low leptin levels, is also impaired during starvation. Leptin-deficient or leptin receptor mutant mice are protected against the development of several inflammatory or various T cell-dependent autoimmune diseases. Therefore, leptin appears to have a central role in the immune response and low leptin levels may protect against autoimmune disease. Here we review the role of leptin in the immune responses, with emphasis on autoimmune diseases. We will also discuss the application of leptin antagonist therapy for prevention and treatment of immunity related disorders.
瘦素是一种由脂肪细胞分泌的激素，在调节能量平衡和食欲方面起着关键作用。除了在体重控制中的重要作用外，瘦素还调节免疫反应。瘦素对 T 细胞群具有促炎作用，通过诱导促炎细胞因子和刺激巨噬细胞和自然杀伤细胞的功能，将辅助性 T 细胞（TH）的平衡转向 TH1 表型。急性饥饿会降低血清瘦素水平，导致细胞免疫反应受损。在饥饿期间，由低瘦素水平介导的 TH1 促炎免疫反应也受到损害。瘦素缺乏或瘦素受体突变小鼠对几种炎症或各种 T 细胞依赖性自身免疫性疾病的发展具有保护作用。因此，瘦素似乎在免疫反应中起着核心作用，低瘦素水平可能对自身免疫性疾病具有保护作用。本文综述了瘦素在免疫反应中的作用，重点介绍了自身免疫性疾病。我们还将讨论瘦素拮抗剂治疗在预防和治疗与免疫相关的疾病中的应用。
