Abstract
Leptin, the protein product of the ob gene, regulates appetite and body weight in animals. Endotexin and cytokines, induced by endotoxin, interleukin (IL) 1 and tumor necrosis factor, increase expression of leptin in mice and hamsters. We measured serum leptin concentrations in patients with cancer before and after administration of recombinant human IL-1α. Fourteen patients received IL-1α at one of three dose levels (0.03, 0.1, or 0.3 μg/kg · day) for 5 days. Serum leptin concentrations increased in all but two patients within 24 h after the first dose. The increase in leptin was correlated directly with IL-1α dose (P = 0.0030). Despite continued administration of IL-1α, serum leptin concentrations returned to pretreatment levels by day 5 of therapy. An increase in serum leptin concentrations may be one mechanism by which anorexia is induced by IL-1α. However, tachyphylaxis of the leptin response suggests that other mechanisms also are involved.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3084-3086 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism |
| Volume | 82 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1997 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Biochemistry
- Endocrinology
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Biochemistry, medical
