Obesity and leptin resistance: distinguishing cause from effect

Because leptin reduces food intake and body weight, the coexistence of elevated leptin levels with obesity is widely interpreted as evidence of ‘leptin resistance.’ Indeed, obesity promotes a number of cellular processes that attenuate leptin signaling (referred to here as ‘cellular leptin resistanc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in endocrinology and metabolism 2010-11, Vol.21 (11), p.643-651
Main Authors: Myers, Martin G, Leibel, Rudolph L, Seeley, Randy J, Schwartz, Michael W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Genetically Modified
Biological and medical sciences
Disease Models, Animal
Drug Resistance - genetics
Drug Resistance - physiology
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Leptin - genetics
Leptin - metabolism
Leptin - physiology
Medical sciences
Metabolic diseases
Models, Biological
Obesity
Obesity - complications
Obesity - etiology
Obesity - genetics
Obesity - metabolism
Receptors, Leptin - metabolism
Receptors, Leptin - physiology
Signal Transduction - genetics
Signal Transduction - physiology
Vertebrates: endocrinology
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Summary:Because leptin reduces food intake and body weight, the coexistence of elevated leptin levels with obesity is widely interpreted as evidence of ‘leptin resistance.’ Indeed, obesity promotes a number of cellular processes that attenuate leptin signaling (referred to here as ‘cellular leptin resistance’) and amplify the extent of weight gain induced by genetic and environmental factors. As commonly used, however, the term ‘leptin resistance’ embraces a range of phenomena that are distinct in underlying mechanisms and pathophysiological implications. Moreover, the induction of cellular leptin resistance by obesity complicates efforts to distinguish the mechanisms that predispose to weight gain from those that result from it. We suggest a framework for approaching these issues and important avenues for future investigation.
ISSN:1043-2760
1879-3061
DOI:10.1016/j.tem.2010.08.002