瘦素的生理功能

Biological Function of Leptin

瘦素是由脂肪细胞分泌的一种蛋白质激素,是一种多效性分子。瘦素可通过抑制食物摄入和增加能量消耗调节能量平衡,瘦素作用的丧失即瘦素抵抗是造成肥胖的重要原因之一。瘦素受体在多种免疫细胞中的表达,说明瘦素在天然免疫、获得性免疫同样发挥着重要作用。瘦素可通过下丘脑Kiss-1/GPR54系统,促进GnRH的释放,进而影响动物的生殖活动。本文主要对瘦素在能量平衡、免疫和繁殖中的作用进行了综述。

Leptin is a protein hormone secreted mainly by the adipocytes, which has many biological actions. Leptin has been recognized to regulate energy homeostasis by depressing food intake and in-creasing energy expenditure. The loss of the role of leptin in energy balance is called leptin resis-tance, which is an important factor leading to obesity. The leptin receptor is expressed in various immune cells, which indicates its role in innate and adaptive immunity. Leptin can boost the release of GnRH by increasing the expression of Kiss-1 gene and its product Kisspeptin. The latter can activate the GnRH neurons which play an important role in reproduction.