Leptin as immune mediator: Interaction between neuroendocrine and immune system
Procaccini, C.; La Rocca, C.; Carbone, F.; De Rosa, V.; Galgani, M.; Matarese, G.
Developmental and Comparative Immunology 66: 120-129
2017
ISSN/ISBN: 1879-0089
PMID: 27288847
DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2016.06.006
Accession: 058208943
Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone/cytokine that links nutritional status with neuroendocrine and immune functions. Initially described as an anti-obesity hormone, leptin has subsequently been shown to exert pleiotropic effects, being also able to influence haematopoiesis, thermogenesis, reproduction, angiogenesis, and more importantly immune homeostasis. As a cytokine, leptin can affect both innate and adaptive immunity, by inducing a pro-inflammatory response and thus playing a key role in the regulation of the pathogenesis of several autoimmune/inflammatory diseases. In this review, we discuss the most recent advances on the role of leptin as immune-modulator in mammals and we also provide an overview on its main functions in non-mammalian vertebrates.