The Role of Leptin on Adipocyte Metabolism and Obesity

Dear Colleagues,

Since its discovery three decades ago, a considerable amount of research has focused on the effects of leptin in terms of weight control, glucose metabolism and overall homeostasis. This adipokine secreted by white adipocytes crosses the blood–brain barrier, and its main functions are on the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus where it controls appetite.

Even though it became quickly evident that exogenous administration of leptin does not represent the holy grail in the treatment of obesity, important recent insight shows that relatively high leptin levels are independently associated with insulin resistance; thus, attempts to decrease leptin levels—even in subjects without obesity—may still be beneficial. Translational studies combining clinical longitudinal data and adipose tissue (AT) biopsies to assess AT morphology and function may provide better insight into the determinants of leptin secretion. Moreover, the cross-talk between adipose tissue and other key metabolic organs (such as the brain and the liver) may be partly mediated via leptin’s action. Functional imaging studies with the simultaneous assessment of leptin levels may assess the effects of leptin on tissue-specific metabolism.

For this Special Issue, we welcome original papers that increase our insight regarding the secretion and function of this key adipokine, as well as high-level reviews that summarize the current knowledge on the topic.

Dr. Eleni Rebelos
Guest Editor

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• leptin
• obesity
• insulin resistance
• bariatric surgery
• functional imaging
• adipocytes
• hypoathalamus