The degree to which target cells in the hypothalamus and peripheral tissues respond effectively to the satiety hormone leptin, which is primarily secreted by adipocytes. Optimal leptin sensitivity is crucial for accurate long-term energy balance regulation, metabolic signaling, and preventing the development of central leptin resistance.
Origin
The term combines the name of the hormone, leptin from the Greek leptos meaning thin, discovered in 1994, with ‘sensitivity,’ a concept borrowed from receptor pharmacology. This concept became necessary to explain why obese individuals often have high leptin levels but fail to register the satiety signal.
Mechanism
Leptin, upon release, travels to the hypothalamus and binds to its specific receptors, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway to suppress appetite and increase energy expenditure. Maintaining optimal sensitivity ensures that even modest fluctuations in circulating leptin are accurately interpreted by the brain, providing the necessary feedback loop to maintain a stable and healthy body weight set point.
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