Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review
  • Published:

Leptin in immuno-rheumatological diseases

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 8, pages 203–212 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Leptin is one of the most important hormones secreted by adipocytes, with a variety of physiological roles related to the control of metabolism and energy homeostasis. Since its discovery in 1994, leptin has attracted increasing interest in the scientific community for its pleiotropic actions. One of these functions is the relationship between nutritional status and immune competence. It structurally resembles proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and IL-12. The cytokine-like structural characteristic of leptin is implicative of its function in regulating immune responses. The role of leptin in regulating immune responses has been assessed in vitro as well as in clinical studies. It has been shown that disease conditions of reduced leptin production are associated with increased infection susceptibility. Conversely, immune-mediated disorders, such as autoimmune diseases, are associated with the increased secretion of leptin and the production of proinflammatory pathogenic cytokines. In this paper, we review the most recent advances of the role of leptin in immune-rheumatological diseases, and we discuss whether strategies aimed at modifying leptin levels could represent innovative and therapeutic tools for autoimmune disorders.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kennedy GC . The role of depot fat in the hypothalamic control of food intake in the rat. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 1953; 140: 578–596.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Ingalls AM, Dickie MM, Snell GD . Obese, a new mutation in the house mouse. J Hered 1950; 41: 317–318.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Coleman DL . Effects of parabiosis of obese with diabetes and normal mice. Diabetologia 1973; 9: 294–298.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ahima RS, Qi Y, Singhal NS, Jackson MB, Scherer PE . Brain adipocytokine action and metabolic regulation. Diabetes 2006; 55: 145–154.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Lago F, Dieguez C, Gomez-Reino J, Gualillo O . The emerging role of adipokines as mediators of inflammation and immune response. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2007; 18: 313–325.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Fantuzzi G . Adipose tissue, adipokines, and inflammation. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2005; 115: 911–919.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Rosen BS, Cook KS, Yaglom J, Groves DL, Volanakis JE, Damm D et al. Adipsin and complement factor D activity: an immune-related defect in obesity. Science 1989; 244: 1483.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hotamisligil GS, Shargill NS, Spiegelman BM . Adipose expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha: direct role in obesity-linked insulin resistance. Science 1993; 259: 87.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Bastard JP, Maachi M, Lagathu C, Kim MJ, Caron M, Vidal H et al. Recent advances in the relationship between obesity, inflammation and insulin resistance. Eur Cytokine Netw 2006; 17: 4–12.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Fantuzzi G, Sennello JA, Batra A, Fedke I, Lehr AH, Zeitz M et al. Defining the role of T cell derived leptin in the modulation of hepatic or intestinal inflammation in mice. Clin Exp Immunol 2005; 142: 31–38.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhang Y, Proenca R, Maffei M, Barone M, Leopold L, Friedman JM et al. Positional cloning of the mouse obese gene and its human homologue. Nature 1994; 372: 425–432.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Campfield LA, Smith FJ, Guisez Y, Devos R, Burn P . Recombinant mouse OB protein: evidence for a peripheral signal linking adiposity and central neural networks. Science 1995; 269: 546–549.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Halaas JL, Gajiwala KS, Maffei M, Cohen SL, Chait BT, Rabinowitz D et al. Weight-reducing effects of the plasma protein encoded by the obese gene. Science 1995; 269: 543–546.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Pelleymounter MA, Cullen MJ, Baker MB, Hecht R, Winters D, Boone T et al. Effects of the obese gene product on body weight regulation in ob/ob mice. Science 1995; 269: 540–543.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Farooqi IS, Matarese G, Lord GM, Keogh JM, Lawrence E, Cheetham CH et al. Beneficial effects of leptin on obesity, T cell hyporesponsiveness, and neuroendocrine/metabolic dysfunction of human congenital leptin deficiency. J Clin Invest 2002; 110: 1093–1103.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Lord GM, Matarese G, Howard JK, Baker RJ, Bloom SR, Lechler RI . Leptin modulates the T cell immune response and reverses starvation-induced immunosuppression. Nature 1998; 394: 897–901.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Baumann H, Morella KK, White DW, Dembski M, Bailon PS, Kim H et al. The full-length leptin receptor has signaling capabilities of interleukin 6-type cytokine receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1996; 93: 8374–8378.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Lam QLK, Lu L . Role of Leptin in Immunity. Cell Mol Immunol 2007; 4: 2–13.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Considine RV, Sinha MK, Heiman ML, Kriauciunas A, Stephens TW, Nyce MR et al. Serum immune-reactine leptin concentrations in normal weight and obese humans. N Engl J Med 1996; 334: 292.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Flier JS . Obesity wars: molecular progress confronts an expanding epidemic. Cell 2004; 116: 337–350.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Chan JL, Matarese G, Shetty GK, Raciti P, Kelesidis I, Aufiero D et al. Differential regulation of metabolic, neuroendocrine, and immune function by leptin in humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2006; 103: 8481–8486.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Bluher S, Mantsoros CS . Leptin in humans: lessons from translational research. Am J Clin Nutr 2009; 89: 991S–997S.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Bodosi B, Gardi J, Hajdu I, Szentirmai E, Obal F Jr, Krueger JM . Rhythms of ghrelin, leptin, and sleep in rats: effects of the normal diurnal cycle, restricted feeding, and sleep deprivation. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2004; 287: R1071–R1079.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Stofkova A . Leptin and adiponectin: from energy and metabolic dysbalance to inflammation and autoimmunity. Endocrine Regul 2009; 43: 157–168.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. La Cava A, Matarese G . The weight of leptin in immunity. Nat Rev Immunol 2004; 4: 371–379.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Lee KN, Jeong IC, Lee SJ, Oh SH, Cho MY . Regulation of leptin gene expression by insulin and growth hormone in mouse adipocytes. Exp Mol Med 2001; 33: 234–239.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Blum WF, Englaro P, Hanitsch S, Juul A, Hertel NT, Muller J et al. Plasma leptin levels in healthy children and adolescents: dependence on body mass index, body fat mass, gender, pubertal stage, and testosterone. Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997; 82: 2904–2910.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Sarraf P, Frederich RC, Turner EM, Ma G, Jaskowiak NT, Rivet DJ 3rd et al. Multiple cytokines and acute inflammation raise mouse leptin levels: potential role in inflammatory anorexia. J Exp Med 1997; 185: 171–175.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Yarasheski KE, Zachwieja JJ, Horgan MM, Powderly WG, Santiago JV, Landt M . Serum leptin concentrations in human immunodeficiency virus-infected men with low adiposity. Metabolism 1997; 46: 303–305.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Tartaglia LA, Dembski M, Weng X, Deng N, Culpepper J, Devos R et al. Identification and expression cloning of a leptin receptor, OB-R. Cell 1995; 83: 1263–1271.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Friedman JM . Obesity: causes and control of excess body fat. Nature 2009; 459: 340–342.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Gamba M, Pralong FP . Control of GnRH neuronal activity by metabolic factors: the role of leptin and insulin. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2006; 133: 254–255.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Guzik TJ, Mangalat D, Korbut R . Adipocytokines. A novel link between inflammation and vascular function? J Physiol Pharmacology 2006; 57: 505–528

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Schwartz MW, Woods SC, Porte D Jr, Seeley RJ, Baskin DG . Central nervous system control of food intake. Nature 2000; 404: 661–671.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Bennett BD, Solar GP, Yuan JQ, Mathias J, Thomas GR, Matthews W . A role for leptin and its cognate receptor in hematopoiesis. Curr Biol 1996; 6: 1170–1180.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Fernandez-Riejos P, Najib S, Santos-Alvarez J, Martın-Romero C, Perez-Perez A, Gonzalez-Yanes C et al. Role of leptin in the activation of immune cells. Mediators Inflamm 2010; 2010: 568343.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Lam QL, Liu S, Cao X, Lu L . Involvement of leptin signaling in the survival and maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. Eur J Immunol 2006; 36: 3118–3130.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Mattioli B, Straface E, Quaranta MG, Giordani L, Viora M . Leptin promotes differentiation and survival of human dendritic cells and licenses them for Th1 priming. J Immunol 2005; 174: 6820–6828.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Zhao Y, Sun R, You L, Gao C, Tian Z . Expression of leptin receptors and response to leptin stimulation of human natural killer cell lines. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2003; 300: 247–252.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Papathanassoglou E, El-Haschimi K, Li XC, Matarese G, Strom T, Mantzoros C . Leptin receptor expression and signaling in lymphocytes: kinetics during lymphocyte activation, role in lymphocyte survival, and response to high fat diet in mice. J Immunol 2006; 176: 7745–7752.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Sanchez-Margalet V, Martin-Romero C, Gonzalez-Yanes C, Goberna R, Rodriguez-Bano J, Muniain MA . Leptin receptor (Ob-R) expression is induced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by in vitro activation and in vivo in HIV-infected patients. Clin Exp Immunol 2002; 129: 119–124.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Madej T, Boguski MS, Bryant SH . Threading analysis suggests that the obese gene product may be a helical cytokine. FEBS Letters 1995; 373: 13–18.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Lord GM, Matarese G, Howard JK, Baker RJ, Bloom SR, Lechler RI . Leptin modulates the T cell immune response and reverses starvation-induced immunosuppression. Nature 1998; 394: 897–901.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Matarese G, Moschos S, Mantzoros CS . Leptin in immunology. J Immunol 2005; 173: 3137–3142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Sanchez-Margalet V, Martin-Romero C . Human leptin signaling in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells: activation of the JAK-STAT pathway. Cell Immunol 2001; 211: 30–36.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Belouzard S, Rouille Y . Ubiquitylation of leptin receptor OB-Ra regulates its clathrin-mediated endocytosis. EMBO J 2006; 25: 932–942.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  47. Murakami T, Yamashita T, Iida M, Kuwajima M, Shima K . A short form of leptin receptor performs signal transduction. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1997; 231: 26–29.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Hekerman P, Zeidler J, Bamberg-Lemper S, Knobelspies H, Lavens D, Tavernier J et al. Pleiotropy of leptin receptor signalling is defined by distinct roles of the intracellular tyrosines. FEBS J 2005; 272: 109–119.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Papathanassoglou E, El-Haschimi K, Li XC, Matarese G, Strom T, Mantzoros C . Leptin receptor expression and signaling in lymphocytes: kinetics during lymphocyte activation, role in lymphocyte survival, and response to high fat diet in mice. J Immunol 2006; 176: 7745–7752.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Mansour E, Pereira FG, Araujo EP, Amaral ME, Morari J, Ferraroni NR et al. Leptin inhibits apoptosis in thymus through a janus kinase-2-independent, insulin receptor substrate-1/phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase-dependent pathway. Endocrinology 2006; 147: 5470–5479.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Tian Z, Sun R, Wei H, Gao B . Impaired natural killer (NK) cell activity in leptin receptor deficient mice: leptin as a critical regulator in NK cell development and activation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2002; 298: 297.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Montecucco F, Bianchi G, Gnerre P, Bertolotto M, Dallegri F, Ottonello L . Induction of neutrophil chemotaxis by leptin: crucial role for p38 and Src kinases. Ann NY Acad Sci 2006; 1069: 463–471.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Matarese G, Carrieri PB, La Cava A, Perna F, Sanna V, de Rosa V et al. Leptin increase in multiple sclerosis associates with reduced number of CD4(þ)CD25þ regulatory T cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2005; 102: 5150–5155.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  54. Sanchez-Margalet V, Martın-Romero C, Santos-Alvarez C, Goberna R, Najib S, Gonzalez-Yanes C . Role of leptin as an immunomodulator of blood mononuclear cells: mechanisms of action. Clin Exp Immun 2003; 133: 11–19.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  55. Matarese G, Leiter EH, La Cava A . Leptin in autoimmunity: many questions, some answers. Tissue Antigens 2007; 70: 87–95

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Fantuzzi G, Faggioni R . Leptin in the regulation of immunity, inflammation and hematopoiesis. J Leukoc Biol 2000; 68: 437–446.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Palmer G, Gabay C . A role for leptin in rheumatic diseases? Ann Rheum Dis 2003; 62: 913–915.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  58. de Rosa V, Procaccini C, Calì G, Pirozzi G, Fontana S, Zappacosta S et al. A key role of leptin in the control of regulatory T cell proliferation. Immunity 2007; 26: 241–255.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Taleb S, Herbin O, Ait-Oufella H, Verreth W, Gourdy P, Barateau V et al. Defective leptin/leptin receptor signaling improves regulatory T cell immune response and protects mice from atherosclerosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2007; 27: 2691–2698.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Gualillo O, Eiras S, Lago F, Dieguez C, Casanueva FF . Elevated serum leptin concentrations induced by experimental acute inflammation. Life Sci 2000; 67: 2433–2441

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Sato T, Laviano A, Meguid MM, Chen C, Rossi-Fanelli F, Hatakeyama K . Involvement of plasma leptin, insulin and free tryptophan in cytokine-induced anorexia. Clin Nutr 2003; 22: 139–146.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Firestein GS, Budd RC, Harris ED, McInnes IB, Ruddy S, Sergent JS . Kelley's textbook of rheumatology. 8th edn. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, 2009.

  63. Harle P, Pangratz G, Weidler C, Büttner R, Schölmerich J, Straub RH . Possible role of leptin in hypoandrogenicity in patients with SLE and RA. Ann Rheum Dis 2004; 63: 809–816.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  64. Vadacca M, Margiotta D, Rigon A, Cacciapaglia F, Coppolino G, Amoroso A et al. Adipokines and systemic lupus erythematosus: relationship with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease risk factors. J Rheumatol 2009; 36: 295–297

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Chung CP . Adipocytokines in SLE: relationship to inflammation, insulin resistance and coronary atherosclerosis. Lupus 2009; 18: 799–806.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  66. Garcia-Gonzalez A, Gonzalez-Lopez L, Valera-Gonzalez IC, Cardona-Muñoz EG, Salazar-Paramo M, González-Ortiz M et al. Serum leptin levels in women with systemic lupus erythematosus. Rheumatol Int 2002; 22: 138–141.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Wislowska M, Rok M, Stepien K . Serum leptin in SLE. Rheumatol Int 2008; 28: 467–473.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. De Sanctis JB, Zabaleta M, Bianco NE, Garmendia J . Serum adipokine levels in patients with SLE. Autoimmunity 2009: 42: 272–274.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Busso N, So A, Chobaz V, Morad C, Martinez-Soria E, Talabot D et al. Leptin sygnaling deficiency impairs humoral and cellular responses and attenuates experimental arthritis. J Immunol 2002; 168: 875–882.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Otero M, Lago R, Gomez R, Lago F, Dieguez C, Gomez Rejino JJ et al. Changes in fat derives hormones plasma concentrations: adiponectin, leptin, resistin and visfatinin rheumatoid arthritis subjects. Ann Rheum Dis 2006; 65: 1198–1201.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  71. Bokarewa M, Bokarew D, Hultgren O, Tarkowski A . leptin consumption in the inflamed joints of patients with RA. Ann Rheum Dis 2003; 62: 952–956.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  72. Fraser DA, Thoen J, Reseland JE, Forre O . Decreased CD4 lymphocyte activation and increased Il-4 production in peripheral blood of RA patients after acute starvation. Clin Rheumatol 1999; 18: 394–401.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Young HR, Solus J, Sokka T, Oeser A, Chung CP, Gebretsadik A et al. Adipocytokines are associated with radiographic joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 2009; 60: 1906–1914.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Anders HJ, Rihl M, Heufelder A, Loch O, Schattenkirchner M . Leptin serum levels are not correlated with disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Metabolism 1999; 48: 745–748.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Targonska-Stepniak B, Majdan M, Dryglewska M . Leptin serum levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients: relation to disease duration and activity. Rheumatol Int 2008; 28: 585–591.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Gomez R, Lago F, Gomez-Reino D, Dieguez C, Gualillo O . Adipokines in the skeleton: influence on cartilage function and joint degenerative diseases. J Mol Endocrinology 2009; 43: 11–18.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Vadacca M, Arcarese L, Taccone A, Rigon A, Buzzulini F, Fiori E et al. Circulating leptin, bone metabolism and inflammation in rheumatic diseases. Ann Rheum Dis 2010; 69( Suppl3): 521.

    Google Scholar 

  78. Saeki H, Shibata S, Tada Y, Karakawa M, Minatani Y, Tamaki K . Psoriasis arthropathica associated with severe obesity showing high serum leptin level. J Dermatol 2009; 36: 364–366.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Park MC, Chung SJ, Park YB, Lee SK . Pro-inflammatory effect of leptin on peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Joint Bone Spine 2009; 76: 170–175.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Toussirot E, Streit G, Nguyen NU, Dumoulin G, Le Huédé G, Saas P et al. Adipose tissue, serum adipokines, and ghrelin in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Metabolism 2007; 56: 1383–1389.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Matarese G, Di Giacomo A, Sanna V, Lord GM, Koward JK, Di Tuoro A et al. Requirement for leptin in the induction and progression of acute encephalomyelitis. J Immunol 2001; 166: 5909–5916.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Sanna V, Di Giacomo A, La Cava A, Lechler RI, Fontana S, Zappacosta S et al. Leptin surge precede onset of autoimmune encephalomyelitis and correlates with development of pathogenic T cell response. J Clin Invest 2003; 111: 241–250.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  83. Matarese G, Procaccini C, de Rosa V . The intricate interface between immune and metabolic regulation: a role for leptin in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis? J Leuk Biol 2008; 84: 893–899.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  84. Batocchi AP, Rotondi M, Caggiula M, Frisullo G, Odoardi F, Nociti V et al. Leptin as a marker of multiple sclerosis activity in patients treated with interferon. J. Neuroimmunol 2003; 139: 150–154.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  85. Vadacca M, Margiotta D, Buzzulini F, Sambataro G, Vernuccio A, Afeltra A . Leptin levels in patients with Sjogren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus: relationship with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Proceedings of the 7th International Congress on Autoimmunity; 2010 May 5–9; Lubijana, Slovenia.

    Google Scholar 

  86. Kotulska A, Kucharz EJ, Brzezińska-Wcisło L, Wadas U . A decreased serum leptin level in patients with systemic sclerosis. Clin Rheumatol 2001; 20: 300–302.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  87. Kreiner F, Galbo H . Insulin sensitivity and related cytokines, chemokines, and adipokines in polymyalgia rheumatica. Scand J Rheumatol 2010; 39: 402–408.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  88. Siegmund B, Lear-Kaul KC, Faggioni R, Fantuzzi G . Leptin deficiency, not obesity, protects mice from Con A-induced hepatitis. Eur J Immunol 2002: 32: 552–560.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Siegmund B, Sennello J, Jones-Carson J, Gamboni-Robertson F, Lehr HA, Batra A et al. Leptin receptor expression on T lymphocytes modulates chronic intestinal inflammation in mice. Gut 2004; 53: 965.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  90. Matarese G, Sanna V, Lecher RI, Sarvetinik N, Fontana S, Zappacosta S et al. Leptin accelerates autoimmune diabetes in female NOD mice. Diabetes 2002; 51: 1356–1361.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  91. Lee CH, Chen YG, Chen J, Reifsnyder PC, Serreze DV, Clare-Sakzker M et al. Novel leptin receptor mutation in NOD/LtJ mice suppresses type 1 diabetes progression: II. Immunologic analysis. Diabetes 2006; 55: 171–178.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  92. Tarzi RM, Cook HT, Jackson I, Pusey CD, Lord GM . Leptin-deficient mice are protected from accelerated nephrotoxic nephritis. Am J Pathol 2004: 164: 385–390.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  93. Kim HA, Choi GS, Jeon JY, Yoon JM, Sung JM, Suh CH . Leptin and ghrelin in Korean systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus 2010; 19: 170–174.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy

    Marta Vadacca, Domenico PE Margiotta, Luca Navarini & Antonella Afeltra

Authors
  1. Marta Vadacca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Domenico PE Margiotta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Luca Navarini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Antonella Afeltra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonella Afeltra.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vadacca, M., Margiotta, D., Navarini, L. et al. Leptin in immuno-rheumatological diseases. Cell Mol Immunol 8, 203–212 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2010.75

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2010.75

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links