Leptin Promotes Wound Healing in the Skin

Abstract

IntroductionLeptin, a 16 kDa anti-obesity hormone, exhibits various physiological properties. Interestingly, skin wound healing was proven to delay in leptin-deficient ob/ob mice. However, little is known on the mechanisms of this phenomenon. In this study, we attempted to elucidate a role of leptin in wound healing of skin.MethodsImmunohistochemical analysis was performed to confirm the expression of the leptin receptor (Ob-R) in human and mouse skin. Leptin was topically administered to chemical wounds created in mouse back skin along with sustained-release absorbable hydrogel. The process of wound repair was histologically observed and the area of ulceration was measured over time. The effect of leptin on the proliferation, differentiation and migration of human epidermal keratinocytes was investigated.ResultsOb-R was expressed in epidermal cells of human and mouse skin. Topical administration of leptin significantly promoted wound healing. Histological analysis showed more blood vessels in the dermal connective tissues in the leptin-treated group. The proliferation, differentiation/function and migration of human epidermal keratinocytes were enhanced by exogenous leptin.ConclusionTopically administered leptin was proven to promote wound healing in the skin by accelerating proliferation, differentiation/function and migration of epidermal keratinocytes and enhancing angiogenesis around the wounded area. These results strongly suggest that topical administration of leptin may be useful as a treatment to promote wound healing in the skin.

Body mass index and risk of non-melanoma skin cancer: cumulative evidence from prospective studies

“…We considered, but not limited to the following evidence that supports this argument: (1) women relative to men have much lower risk of NMSC32, suggesting that women may have some protections; (2) animal studies showed that withdrawal of ovary dramatically increased susceptibility to NMSC in female mice33, and estrogen receptor-β agonist remarkably decreased UV-induced skin cancer34; and (3) There is evidence that estrogen may promote wound healing and delay or even reverse skin aging through multiple mechanisms (e.g., reduction of inflammation and oxidative damage)3536. Another hormone that is significantly higher in women than in men is adipokine, leptin, which has also been suggested to promote wound repair in the skin (e.g., by accelerating proliferation and enhancing angiogenesis around the wounded)37, and to improve, preserve and restore skin regeneration38. For men and women having an equivalent amount of excess weight, women carry more subcutaneous fat which a major producer of leptin, and this might partly explain the sex-specific difference in the association of BMI with NMSC risk in this study.…”

Crosstalk between skin inflammation and adipose tissue-derived products: pathogenic evidence linking psoriasis to increased adiposity

“…Leptin is mainly secreted by adipocytes and directed to target cells, such as epithelial cells, nervous cells and immune cells expressing its receptor LepR [27,83]. Indeed, leptin is known to stimulate keratinocyte proliferation in vitro and to act as a mitogen during skin repair in vivo [84]. In accordance, LepR is particularly expressed in proliferating basal layer and in neo-epithelial keratinocytes during skin repair [84].…”

“…Indeed, leptin is known to stimulate keratinocyte proliferation in vitro and to act as a mitogen during skin repair in vivo [84]. In accordance, LepR is particularly expressed in proliferating basal layer and in neo-epithelial keratinocytes during skin repair [84]. It have been shown activation of the classical leptin pathway via JAK/STAT cascade in human HaCaT cells during wound repair, and induction of keratinocyte-derived proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α [85].…”

COMP in the Infrapatellar Fat Pad—Results of a Prospective Histological, Immunohistological, and Biochemical Case–Control Study

“…Moreover, leptin could be detected immunohistologically in the IPFP of patients in early as well as in end‐stage OA . In connection with trauma, researchers found that leptin has a positive effect on fracture‐healing in mice and wound‐healing of the skin . As far as we know, leptin has not been described in context with articular trauma yet, but the fact that in our subjects leptin expression was higher in the control group could be interpreted as an acute reaction to the trauma in this context and that leptin may support intra‐articular processes, which are a response to the trauma.…”