Title: A Role for Leptin in the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) and in Immune Response
VOLUME: 1 ISSUE: 3
Author(s):W. Waelput, P. Brouckaert, D. Broekaert and J. Tavernier
Affiliation:Dept of Medical ProteinResearch, VIB, Baertsoenkaai 3, 9000 Gent, Belgium
Keywords:Leptin, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS), Immune Response, STARVATION, CELL IMMUNITY
Abstract: Leptin was originally identified as an adipocyte-derived cytokine with a key role in the regulation of the energy balance. Subsequent research has, however, revealed that leptins biological action is not restricted to its effects on appetite and food intake, but rather has a much more pleiotropic character. Evidence is now accumulating that it has important functions in reproduction, hematopoiesis, HPA-axis endocrinology and angiogenesis. In this review, we have focused on the effects of leptin in the immune system, which can be found in both the antigen-specific immunity and in the inflammatory effector system.
