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Updated: May 31, 2025

11:12
Immunometabolic Circuits in Infection for Advancing Host Directed Therapies
Published on: September 13, 2024
350
Peptide with Dual Roles in Immune and Metabolic Regulation: Liver-Expressed Antimicrobial Peptide-2 (LEAP-2)
Yitong Li1,2, Ying Liu3, Meng Gou1,2
1College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116081, China.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 25, 2025
Summary
Liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP-2) is an immune modulator and metabolic regulator. It acts as a ghrelin antagonist, offering potential therapeutic targets for obesity and diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP-2) is recognized for its role in innate immunity.
- Emerging evidence identifies LEAP-2 as an endogenous antagonist and inverse agonist of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHSR1a).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in understanding LEAP-2's functions in immune modulation and energy regulation.
- To highlight LEAP-2's therapeutic potential for metabolic disorders.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on LEAP-2's immunological and metabolic roles.
- Analysis of LEAP-2's interaction with the GHSR1a receptor and ghrelin.
Main Results:
- LEAP-2 competitively antagonizes ghrelin at the GHSR1a receptor.
- LEAP-2 influences host energy balance and metabolic processes through the ghrelin-GHSR1a pathway.
- The LEAP-2/ghrelin molar ratio is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target.
Conclusions:
- LEAP-2 possesses dual roles in immunity and metabolism.
- LEAP-2 and its interaction with ghrelin present promising therapeutic avenues for obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
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