Leptin resistance is believed to contribute to obesity and insulin resistance. It was not clear why leptin resistance happens in the body. In the current issue of Nature Medicine, a study suggests that c-reactive protein binds to leptin, and blocks leptin interaction with its receptor. This was demonstrated in transgenic mice overexpressing c-reactive protein. This study provides a new mechanism for leptin resistance. Attached is the PDF file of this paper. Mitochondrial dysfunction is believed to contribute to pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. A news report was published in Nature weeks ago about the current status in this field. PDF file of this report is also attached.

http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v12/n4/abs/nm1372.html

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v440/n7084/full/440600a.html

By Jianping at PBRC
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Jianping Ye, MD
Associate Professor
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Louisiana State University
6400 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone: (225) 763-3163
Fax: (225) 763-2525
E-mail: yej@pbrc.edu