Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0038187 (starvation)
 24,951 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia. Leptin has been implicated as an antiapoptotic compound as well as a stimulant of the immune response. Leptin administration is capable of reversing the immune deficiency that occurs upon starvation. We investigated a possible role for leptin in CVID; a condition associated with lowered plasma leptin levels. Thirty-eight patients were studied. Addition of leptin to the tissue culture media of PBMC from CVID patients increased the proliferative response of lymphocytes to mitogens and decreased activation-induced apoptosis of these cells. IL-2 and specially IL-4 production also increased significantly upon addition of leptin to the PBMC cultures. Our results suggest that leptin may be involved in some of the cellular defects observed in CVID and indicate a novel therapeutic strategy to improve immune function in these patients.
 ...
PMID:Exogenous leptin restores in vitro T cell proliferation and cytokine synthesis in patients with common variable immunodeficiency syndrome. 1563 48

Leptin is involved in the control of energy storage by the body. Low serum leptin levels, as seen in starvation, are associated with impaired inflammatory T cell responses that can be reversed by exogenous leptin. Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia and recurrent infections. Several defects in T cell function have also been described, and allergy, autoimmune disease, and lymphomas or other malignancies can be present. Previous studies in Brazilian CVID patients have shown that, in contrast with mononuclear cells from healthy controls, CVID cells cultured with phytohemagglutinin and added leptin increased the proliferative response and decreased activation-induced apoptosis. Interleukin (IL)-2 and especially IL-4 production also increased significantly, although the effects of exposure to leptin were not observed uniformly in CVID patients. The majority, however, responded in some degree, and some exhibited completely restored values of the four parameters.These remarkable results indicate leptin could be used to improve immune function in these patients. On the other hand, we found no specific correlation between serum leptin levels and the number of infectious events over a 24-month period, presence of autoimmunity, allergies, or cancer in these patients. The results suggest that the absolute value of serum leptin does not determine the clinical behavior of patients or responses to leptin in vitro. Of note is the divergence between serum leptin, response to leptin in vitro, and the presence of autoimmunity, indicating the need to identify the cellular and molecular players involved in the regulation of the immune response by leptin in CVID.
 ...
PMID:Leptin and the immune response: an active player or an innocent bystander? 1923 41