Open AccessBenefits of leptin therapy in HIV patients
Author(s) -
Uma Sinha,
Keshab Sinharay,
Nilanjan Sengupta,
P. K. Mukhopadhyay
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
indian journal of endocrinology and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.456
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 2230-9500
pISSN - 2230-8210
DOI - 10.4103/2230-8210.105583
Subject(s) - medicine , leptin , lipotoxicity , lipodystrophy , metabolic syndrome , clinical trial , insulin , diabetes mellitus , obesity , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , insulin sensitivity , antiretroviral therapy , insulin resistance , endocrinology , immunology , viral load
Leptin therapy in human recombinant form has recently been used in HIV-associated lipodystrophy syndrome on experimental basis in some small short-term clinical trials. It has shown its beneficial effects only in hypoleptinemic HIV-infected patients by causing definite improvement in their insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, lipid status, and truncal obesity. Leptin prevents lipotoxicity and activates insulin signaling pathways through several postulated mechanisms. Central leptin insufficiency with peripheral hyperleptinemia has come out to be a significant contributor to the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome. In this article, we will review the basis of leptin therapy in HIV patients, with its promises. However, further larger clinical trials are needed to prove its long-term efficacy in the control of metabolic complications related to HIV therapy.