Table 1.

Summary of the main central and peripheral actions of leptin

Site of action	Specific effects	References
Immunity	Chemoattractant for macrophages Induce the production of proinflammatory mediators by macrophages and T-lymphocytes Proliferation and differentiation of hemopoietic precursors	59
Circulatory system	Platelet aggregation Angiogenesis Wound repair Increase blood pressure Increase heart rate	60–65
Lungs	Lung capacity and compliance Predictor of lung function	66–68
Skeletal muscle	Triggers β-oxidation Attenuates insulin-mediated lipogenic effects	69,70
Liver	Inhibits insulin binding Inhibits glucagon-activated cAMP production Profibrotic effect in hepatic stellar cells Increase the sensitivity to hepatic inflammation	71–75
WAT	Inhibits insulin binding Inhibits insulin-mediated effects on glucose transport, glycogen synthase activity and lipogenesis Stimulates lipolysis Pro-inflammatory cytokine	77–82
BAT	Increases the insulin-stimulated utilization of glucose	47,89
Reproduction	Inhibits insulin-induced estradiol production Follicular growth and maturation	91,92
Brain	Neuroendocrine/neuroprotective functions Decreases food intake Increases energy expenditure SNS activation Stimulates lipolysis	21–23,41,42,46,48,49

Abbreviations: WAT, white adipose tissue; BAT, brown adipose tissue; cAMP, cyclic AMP; SNS, sympathetic nervous system.