Antagonizing leptin: current status and future directions.

The adipocyte-derived hormone/cytokine leptin acts as a metabolic switch, connecting the body's nutritional status to high energy consuming processes such as reproduction and immune responses. Inappropriate leptin responses can promote autoimmune diseases and tumorigenesis. In this review we discuss the current strategies to modulate leptin signaling and the possibilities for their use in research and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]