Leptin Resistance - Or Why Leptin Fails to Work in Obesity

K. El-Haschimi; H. Lehnert

doi:10.1055/s-2003-37492

Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes, Table of Contents

Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2003; 111(1): 2-7
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-37492

Review

J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Leptin Resistance - Or Why Leptin Fails to Work in Obesity

K. El-Haschimi¹ , H. Lehnert¹

¹Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Otto-Von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany

Abstract

In experimental models of obesity high serum concentrations of leptin without subsequent inhibition of food intake indicate a resistance to the physiological effects of leptin. Similar to the animal model leptin concentrations in most of the obese patients are higher compared to normal-weight persons. The postulated leptin resistance is one major target in the search for a better understanding of obesity and the development of pharmacological tools to treat this spreading disease.

Key words

Leptin - Leptin resistance - STAT3 - SOCS3 - Blood-brain-barrier

Full Text

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Hendrik Lehnert

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism · Otto-Von-Guericke University

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