[Insulin resistance, role of leptin and leptin receptor]

Leptin, the obese gene product, is an adipocyte-derived satiety factor which is involved in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. Obesity often accompanies insulin resistance and high levels of leptin. In in vitro studies, leptin has been reported to increase fatty acid oxidation and decrease fatty acid synthesis in adipocytes and hepatocytes. The direct effects of leptin on glucose metabolism and insulin signaling have not been clarified yet. In in vivo studies, however, leptin has been reported to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in normal and obese rodents acting mainly through hypothalamus. Moreover leptin has been reported to have antidiabetic effects in insulin-deficient diabetes rats and lipoatrophic diabetes mice. It is suggested that leptin modulates insulin sensitivity and glucose disposal and that leptin may have a pathophysiological and therapeutic implications in diabetes.