At the crossroad between immunity and metabolism: focus on leptin

作者：Conde Javier; Scotece Morena; Gomez Rodolfo; Gomez Reino Juan J; Lago Francisca; Gualillo Oreste^*

来源：Expert Review of Clinical Immunology, 2010, 6(5): 801-808.

DOI：10.1586/ECI.10.48

• autoimmune diseases
• immune system
• inflammation
• leptin
• leptin receptors
• Th1 cells
• Th2 cells

White adipose tissue is currently considered to be an active endocrine organ that secretes a plethora of factors named adipokines, most of them proinflammatory in nature, which probably contribute to low-level systemic inflammation; a state that is often present in metabolic syndrome-associated chronic pathologies such as obesity and atherosclerosis. Leptin is historically and indisputably one of the most important adipokines secreted by fat cells, with a variety of physiological roles related to the control of metabolism, energy homeostasis and inflammatory response. One of these functions is the connection between nutritional status and immune competence. Indeed, leptin has been shown to modulate both the innate and adaptive immune responses in both normal and pathological conditions. It has been shown that conditions characterized by low leptin levels are associated with increased susceptibility to infection. Conversely, immune-mediated disorders, such as autoimmune diseases, are associated with increased secretion of leptin and the production of proinflammatory pathogenic cytokines. Thus, leptin can easily be considered a frank mediator of the inflammatory/immune response.

• 出版日期2010-9
• 单位河北医科大学