When Leptin Is Not There: A Review of What Nonsyndromic Monogenic Obesity Cases Tell Us and the Benefits of Exogenous Leptin

Overview

Journal Front Endocrinol (Lausanne)

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2021 Sep 10

PMID 34504472

Citations 12

Authors

Kaio Cezar Rodrigues Salum

Jonatas de Mendonca Rolando

Veronica Marques Zembrzuski

Joao Regis Ivar Carneiro

Cicero Brasileiro Mello

Clarissa Menezes Maya-Monteiro

Patricia Torres Bozza

Fabiana Barzotto Kohlrausch

Ana Carolina Proenca da Fonseca

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Obesity is a pandemic condition of complex etiology, resulting from the increasing exposition to obesogenic environmental factors combined with genetic susceptibility. In the past two decades, advances in genetic research identified variants of the leptin-melanocortin pathway coding for genes, which are related to the potentiation of satiety and hunger, immune system, and fertility. Here, we review cases of congenital leptin deficiency and the possible beneficial effects of leptin replacement therapy. In summary, the cases presented here show clinical phenotypes of disrupted bodily energy homeostasis, biochemical and hormonal disorders, and abnormal immune response. Some phenotypes can be partially reversed by exogenous administration of leptin. With this review, we aim to contribute to the understanding of leptin gene mutations as targets for obesity diagnostics and treatment strategies.

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