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. 2002 Sep;87(3):192–197. doi: 10.1136/adc.87.3.192

Leptin, malnutrition, and immune response in rural Gambian children

S Moore 1, G Morgan 1, A Collinson 1, J Swain 1, M O'Connell 1, A Prentice 1
PMCID: PMC1719231  PMID: 12193424

Abstract

Background: The adipocyte derived hormone, leptin, has cytokine like function and may mediate the effects of starvation on immunity. Mice with congenital leptin deficiency (ob/ob) have small hypocellular thymuses and impaired cellular immunity. In humans leptin influences the differentiation of naïve and memory cells in vitro, and genetic leptin deficiency has been associated with an ill defined susceptibility to infection.

Aims: To describe the in vivo relation of leptin and immune function in children.

Methods: Fasting plasma leptin concentrations, immune function (T and B cell mediated vaccine responses and delayed type hypersensitivity), and mucosal function (dual sugar permeability test and salivary sIgA concentrations) were measured in a cohort of 472 moderately undernourished rural Gambian children.

Results: Leptin concentrations correlated with body fat assessed by mid upper arm circumference or BMI for age Z scores, and were very low compared to well nourished European norms (males 1.8 v 11.1 ng/ml; females 2.4 v 13.8 ng/ml). No detectable relations were found between leptin concentrations and any of the measures of immune or mucosal function.

Conclusions: The data confirm that leptin acts as a peripheral signal of energy restriction, but do not support an association between fasting plasma leptin levels and immune function in children of this age.

Full Text

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Figure 1 .

Figure 1

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Deciles of plasma leptin by gender. Data are presented as the mean per decile group of the cohort.

Figure 2 .

Figure 2

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Plasma leptin by quartiles of MUAC, BMI, and height for age SD scores.

Figure 3 .

Figure 3

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Vaccine response by deciles of plasma leptin. Data are presented as the mean per decile group of the cohort. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean.

Figure 4 .

Figure 4

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CMI response, lactulose–mannitol ratio, salivary sIgA, and plasma ACT by deciles of plasma leptin. Data are presented as the mean per decile group of the cohort. Error bars represent the standard error of the mean.

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