Not available outside of the UK & Ireland.

Analysis Note

The biological activity is measured by its ability to induce proliferation of leptin-dependent human OB-R transfected murine BAF3 cells.

Application

Leptin human has been used:to study the effect of leptin on ACAT1 (acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase 1) expression and cholesterol efflux from primary cultured human macrophagesto study the effect of leptin on expression of IGFBP2 (insulin growth factor binding protein 2) in skeletal muscleto study the effect of leptin on HLA-G (human leukocyte antigen G) expression in placental trophoblaststo study the effect of leptin on in vitro maturation, fertilization and development of horse oocytes after ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)

Biochem/physiol Actions

Leptin is a hormone produced primarily in adipocytes, although leptin mRNA has also been identified in placenta and fetal tissues, gastric tissue and liver. Its primary site of action appears to be on neurons in the hypothalamus that are involved in regulating energy balance, appetite, and body weight. Leptin increases the production of nitric oxide in endothelial cells and stimulates angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo.Human and mouse leptin share ~84% sequence identity.

Mutations in LEP (leptin) are linked with type-2 diabetes. Presence of high levels of leptin in plasma is related to adiposity.

Leptin is believed to play a role in normal pregnancy development.

General description

The gene LEP (leptin) is mapped to human chromosome 7q31. It is a 16kDa peptide. Leptin is released in the circulation and goes to the CNS (central nervous system). In CNS, it works by associating with leptin receptor.

Physical form

Lyophilized from a 0.2 µm filtered solution with 0.0045 mM NaHCO₃