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PMID: 11824503 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Review

Influence of cortisol status on leptin secretion.

Pituitary ·Vol. 4 ·No. 1-2 ·2001-00-00 ·Pages 111-6

Leal-Cerro A, Soto A, Martínez MA, Dieguez C, Casanueva FF

Abstract

The discovery of the adipocyte-produced hormone leptin has changed the field of obesity research and our understanding of energy homeostasis. It is now accepted that leptin is the afferent loop informing the hypothalamus about the states of fat stores, with hypothalamic efferents regulating appetite and energy expenditure. I addition, leptin has a role as a metabolic adaptator in overweight and fasting states. New and previously unsuspected neuroendocrine roles have emerged for leptin. Leptin participates in the expression of CRH in the hypothalamus, interacts at the adrenal level with ACTH, and is regulated by glucocorticoids. Since leptin and cortisol show an inverse circadian rhythm, it has suggested that a regulatory feedback is present. However glucocorticoids appears to play a modulatory, but not essential roles in generating leptin diurnal rhythm. Glucocortiocids act directly on the adipose tissue and increase leptin synthesis and secretion in humans. Leptin levels are markedly increased in Cushing's syndrome patients and in other pseudo-Cushing's syndrome states. Glucocorticoids appears to act as a key modulator of body weight and food intake, promoting leptin secretion by adipocytes, limiting central leptin induced effects and favoring those of the NPY. Furthermore the modulatory role of glucocorticoids could be altered in obesity, but the precise mode of action remains to be established. The relevance of this finding merits further studies.

MeSH Terms
Animals Cushing Syndrome/physiopathology Glucocorticoids/physiology Humans Hydrocortisone/metabolism Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/physiology Leptin/metabolism,physiology Pituitary-Adrenal System/physiology
Chemicals
Glucocorticoids Leptin Hydrocortisone
Authors & Affiliations
5 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Leal-Cerro A
Department of Endocrinology, H. U. Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain. [email protected]
Soto A
Martínez M A
Dieguez C
Casanueva F F
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Article Info
Journal
Pituitary
Abbr.
Pituitary
ISSN
1386-341X
DOI
10.1023/a:1012903330944
Email
[email protected]
Published
2001-00-00
Pages
111-6
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
9814578
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1023/a:1012903330944 View journal details
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