Leptin signaling and its central role in energy homeostasis

Abstract

Leptin plays a critical role in regulating appetite, energy expenditure and body weight, making it a key factor in maintaining a healthy balance. Despite numerous efforts to develop therapeutic interventions targeting leptin signaling, their effectiveness has been limited, underscoring the importance of gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms through which leptin exerts its functions. While the hypothalamus is widely recognized as the primary site responsible for the appetite-suppressing and weight-reducing effects of leptin, other brain regions have also been increasingly investigated for their involvement in mediating leptin’s action. In this review, we summarize leptin signaling pathways and the neural networks that mediate the effects of leptin, with a specific emphasis on energy homeostasis.

Effects of radiation mitigating amino acid mixture on mice of different sexes

“…In addition, leptin levels were also increased by MAAM treatment in these mouse sera. Leptin, a hormone produced in adipocytes, plays a crucial role in maintaining a normal body weight and regulating energy expenditure ( 23 – 25 ). Our current data suggest that, in addition to the previously reported mitigative effects of GI-ARS in male Swiss mice, MAAM may also enhance the survival of male CD2F1 mice following radiation exposure by protecting against radiation-induced hematopoietic system failure.…”

Anorexia-Induced Hypoleptinemia Drives Adaptations in the JAK2/STAT3 Pathway in the Ventral and Dorsal Hippocampus of Female Rats

“…Leptin is an adipokine mediator of adipose–nerve tissue communication and plays a crucial role in regulating appetite, feeding, body mass and energy expenditure [ 1 ]. It is produced from adipocytes, circulates in the blood [ 2 ] and crosses the blood–brain barrier to modulate the anorexigenic response via the leptin receptor (LepR) located in neuropeptide Y/agouti-related protein (NPY/AgRP) and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the hypothalamus [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Upon binding to its receptor, leptin can exert its effects by activating the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of the transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signaling pathway [ 6 ].…”