Open AccessLeptin replacement alters brain response to food cues in genetically leptin-deficient adults
Author(s) -
Kate Baicy,
Edythe D. London,
John Monterosso,
Ma-Li Wong,
Tuncay Delibaşı,
A. M. Sharma,
Júlio Licinio
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.0706481104
Subject(s) - leptin , functional magnetic resonance imaging , missense mutation , insula , neuroscience , endocrinology , obesity , medicine , biology , prefrontal cortex , biological neural network , mutation , psychology , gene , genetics , cognition
A missense mutation in theob gene causes leptin deficiency and morbid obesity. Leptin replacement to three adults with this mutation normalized body weight and eating behavior. Because the neural circuits mediating these changes were unknown, we paired functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with presentation of food cues to these subjects. During viewing of food-related stimuli, leptin replacement reduced brain activation in regions linked to hunger (insula, parietal and temporal cortex) while enhancing activation in regions linked to inhibition and satiety (prefrontal cortex). Leptin appears to modulate feeding behavior through these circuits, suggesting therapeutic targets for human obesity.