lep Expression and Its Role in Obesity and Type-2 Diabetes

Abstract

Obesity is metabolic disorder that increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other metabolic syndromes in human beings. One sign of diabetes is increased blood glucose levels in the body. Glucose levels increase due to problems with insulin secretion or insulin resistance. Maturity onset of diabetes of the young is more common in adults and occurs due to insulin resistance. Both diabetes and obesity are major problems that are responsible for the death of millions of individuals every year, worldwide. Leptin, a 164-KDa hormone that is secreted by white adipose tissue, is a product of the lep gene. Mutation in lep decreases leptin concentration and increases obesity and type-2 diabetes mellitus. Leptin has been shown to produce positive effects on hunger, energy expenditure, and behavior and is thus useful in the treatment of obesity and type-2 diabetes. Leptin controls appetite through its effect on the hypothalamus in the brain. Both leptin and insulin regulate appetite, body weight, and glucose levels in the body.