瘦素与肝纤维化

Leptin and Liver Fibrosis

瘦素最初被认为是一种由脂肪细胞分泌的蛋白，能抑制食欲，增加耗能。近年来研究发现肝星状细胞也能分泌瘦素，而且肝星状细胞、窦内皮细胞、枯否细胞等肝脏间质细胞均有瘦素受体表达，瘦素通过受体发挥其生物学效应。窦内皮细胞和枯否细胞是瘦素促进肝纤维化的靶细胞，再进一步活化肝星状细胞，而肝星状细胞的活化是肝纤维化发生发展的中心环节，因此瘦素与肝问质细胞的关系成为肝纤维化研究的热点，本文就这方面作一综述。

Leptin was firstly considered as a protein secreted by adipose cells. Leptin can inhibit appetite and increase energy consumption. Two facts that the activated HSCs can produce leptin, and HSCs, SECs, KCs contain leptin receptors have been discovered in recent studies. SECs and KCs are the target cells of liver fibrosis which is promoted by leptin, and then HSCs are activated by the two target cells. However, the activation of HSCs plays a pivotal role in the development of liver fibrosis. Therefore, more and more attention is paid to the research of the relation between leptin and interstitial cells. The complete review of the research advancement in this field is given in this article.