Hepatic gene expression profiling reveals key pathways involved in leptin-mediated weight loss in ob/ob mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Leptin, a cytokine-like protein, plays an important role in the regulation of body weight through inhibition of food intake and stimulation of energy expenditure. Leptin circulates in blood and acts on the brain, which sends downstream signals to regulate body weight. Leptin therapy has been successful in treating leptin deficient obese patients. However, high levels of leptin have been observed in more common forms of obesity indicating a state of leptin resistance which limits the application of leptin in the treatment of obesity. If the central effect of leptin could be by-passed and genes which respond to leptin treatment could be regulated directly, new therapeutic targets for the treatment of obesity may be possible. The purpose of this study was to identify genes

SUBMITTER: Sharma A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2922341 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature