The
Role of Leptin in Human Physiology and
Pathophysiology
R.
JANEČKOVÁ
Institute
of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic
Received November 9,
2000
Accepted February 12, 2001
Summary
This
review focuses on current knowledge of leptin
biology and the role of leptin in various
physiological and pathophysiological states.
Leptin is involved in the regulation of body
weight. Serum leptin can probably be considered
as one of the best biological markers reflecting
total body fat in both animals and humans.
Obesity in man is accompanied by increased
circulating leptin concentrations. Gender
differences clearly exist. Leptin is not only
correlated to a series of endocrine parameters
such as insulin, glucocorticoids, thyroid
hormones, testosterone, but it also seems to be
involved in mediating some endocrine mechanisms
(onset of puberty, insulin secretion) and
diseases (obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome). It
has also been suggested that leptin can act as a
growth factor in the fetus and the neonate.
.
Key
words
Leptin
· Obesity · Puberty · Body mass index ·
Hormones · Pregnancy
Reprint
requests
Renata
Janečková, M.D., Institute of Endocrinology,
Národní třída 8, CZ-116 94 Prague 1, Czech
Republic. e-mail: drjaneckova@hotmail.com
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