HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Alexe, D.-M. Articles by Petridou, E. Th. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Alexe, D.-M. Articles by Petridou, E. Th.

Determinants of Early Life Leptin Levels and Later Life Degenerative Outcomes

Delia-Marina Alexe, MD, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
Garyfallia Syridou, MD, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
Eleni Th. Petridou, MD, MPH, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece

Reprint Requests: Eleni Th. Petridou, MD, MPH, Professor of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Athens University School of Medicine, 75 M. Asias Street, Goudi, 11527, Athens, Greece, Email: epetrid{at}med.uoa.gr

The early (intrauterine and neonatal) life environment plays an important role in programming the susceptibility in later life to chronic degenerative diseases, such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, cancer and osteoporosis.Among other hormones, leptin plays a major role in the regulation of the overall metabolism and has multiple neuroendocrine (adeno- and neuro-hypophysis axes and the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis) and immune functions.The hormone exerts its actions beginning in the early life time period, regulating the intrauterine and early extrauterine life growth and development, as well as the adaptation to extrauterine life, neonatal thermogenesis and response to stress. Recent findings also support a role of leptin in the process of fetal bone remodeling and brain development.Therefore, it is of interest to explore the physiology of leptin in early life, as well as those factors that may perturb the balance of the hormone with pathological consequences in terms of confining an increased risk for disease in later life.This review aims to summarize reported findings concerning the role of leptin in early life, as well as the association of fetal, maternal and placental factors with leptin levels, while attempting to speculate mechanisms through which these factors may influence the risk for developing chronic diseases in later life.

Key Words: Degenerative health outcomes • Early life • Later life • Leptin

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Hsuchou, A. J. Kastin, X. Wu, H. Tu, and W. Pan Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor-1 in Cerebral Microvessels Changes during Development and Influences Urocortin Transport across the Blood-Brain Barrier Endocrinology, March 1, 2010; 151(3): 1221 - 1227. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. D Briana and A. Malamitsi-Puchner Intrauterine growth restriction and adult disease: the role of adipocytokines Eur. J. Endocrinol., March 1, 2009; 160(3): 337 - 347. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. S. Mantzoros, S. L. Rifas-Shiman, C. J. Williams, J. L. Fargnoli, T. Kelesidis, and M. W. Gillman Cord Blood Leptin and Adiponectin as Predictors of Adiposity in Children at 3 Years of Age: A Prospective Cohort Study Pediatrics, February 1, 2009; 123(2): 682 - 689. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Delahaye, C. Breton, P.-Y. Risold, M. Enache, I. Dutriez-Casteloot, C. Laborie, J. Lesage, and D. Vieau Maternal Perinatal Undernutrition Drastically Reduces Postnatal Leptin Surge and Affects the Development of Arcuate Nucleus Proopiomelanocortin Neurons in Neonatal Male Rat Pups Endocrinology, February 1, 2008; 149(2): 470 - 475. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]