Abstract

LEPTIN CENTERED THERAPY FOR DIABETES: GREAT HOPE FOR IMMINENT

Ishan I. Panchal*, Dhrubo Jyoti Sen, Alkesh K. Patel and Samir K. Shah

ABSTRACT

Diabetes is a metabolic syndrome characterized by the chronicelevation of blood sugar levels resulting from faults in insulinsecretion, insulin resistance, or both. Leptin is a hormone known tohave positive effects on hunger and energy expenditure and glucosebreakdown. Leptin has beneficial effects on the glucose-insulinmetabolism, by decreasing hyperglycemia, enhancing insulinemia andinsulin resistance. Leptin is a protein of high molecular mass (16 kDa).Leptin is translated as a 167 amino acid protein with an amino-terminalsecretory signal order of 21 amino acids. Leptin and insulin areimportant for weight regulation by controlling appetite levels and canbe important for preventing diabetes by controlling blood sugar levels.Hypothalamic insulin and leptin signaling play a crucial role in theregulation of glucose homeostasis and in the development of insulinresistance. Leptin microinjections into the nucleus of the solitary tract(NST) have been shown to elicit sympathoexcitatory responses and potentiate thecardiovascular responses to activation of the chemo reflex.

Keywords: diabetes, leptin, insulin, appetite, weight regulation.