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(Circulation Research. 2007;101:545.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.

Review

Leptin Signaling and Obesity

Cardiovascular Consequences

Ronghua Yang, Lili A. Barouch

From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.

Correspondence to Lili A. Barouch, MD, Johns Hopkins University, 720 Rutland Ave, Ross 1050, Baltimore, MD 21205. E-mail barouch{at}jhmi.edu

This Review is part of a thematic series on the Pathobiology of Obesity, which includes the following articles:

Adipose-Derived Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine Cardiac Energy Metabolism in Obesity

Leptin Signaling and Obesity: Cardiovascular Consequences

Lipid Disorders and the Metabolic Syndrome Adiponectin As a Cardiovascular Protectant
Gary Lopaschuk Guest Editor

Leptin, among the best known hormone markers for obesity, exerts pleiotropic actions on multiple organ systems. In this review, we summarize major leptin signaling pathways, namely Janus-activated kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription and mitogen-activated protein kinase, including possible mechanisms of leptin resistance in obesity. The effects of leptin on the cardiovascular system are discussed in detail, including its contributions to hypertension, atherosclerosis, depressed myocardial contractile function, fatty acid metabolism, hypertrophic remodeling, and reduction of ischemic/reperfusion injury. The overall goal is to summarize current understanding of how altered leptin signaling in obesity contributes to obesity-related cardiovascular disease.

Key Words: leptin • obesity • cardiovascular disease