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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

An Adipocyte Cell Culture Model to Study the Impact of Protein and Micro-RNA Modulation on Adipocyte Function
Published on: May 4, 2021
The PI3K signaling pathway mediates the biological effects of leptin
Jose Donato1, Renata Frazão, Carol Fuzeti Elias
1Division of Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9077, United States. josedonatojr@gmail.com
Abstract:
The activation of the leptin receptor recruits several intracellular signaling pathways, including the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. While some of the leptin-induced signaling pathways, such as the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, induce cellular responses primarily through changes in gene expression, the PI3K pathway affects cellular properties more rapidly, through post-translational changes such as protein phosphorylation. Accordingly, several studies have shown that the PI3K pathway is required for the acute effects of leptin, such as a leptin-induced decrease in food intake. Leptin signaling through PI3K also affects the electrophysiological properties of neurons, including changes in their membrane potential and firing rates. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in our understanding of the role played by the PI3K signaling pathway in controlling food intake and energy balance. In particular, we focus on the importance of the PI3K signaling pathway as a mediator of the effects of leptin on hypothalamic neurons.
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