Leptin receptor signaling in T cells is required for Th17 differentiation.
J Immunol
; 194(11): 5253-60, 2015 Jun 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25917102
ABSTRACT
The hormone leptin plays a key role in energy homeostasis, and the absence of either leptin or its receptor (LepR) leads to severe obesity and metabolic disorders. To avoid indirect effects and to address the cell-intrinsic role of leptin signaling in the immune system, we conditionally targeted LepR in T cells. In contrast with pleiotropic immune disorders reported in obese mice with leptin or LepR deficiency, we found that LepR deficiency in CD4(+) T cells resulted in a selective defect in both autoimmune and protective Th17 responses. Reduced capacity for differentiation toward a Th17 phenotype by lepr-deficient T cells was attributed to reduced activation of the STAT3 and its downstream targets. This study establishes cell-intrinsic roles for LepR signaling in the immune system and suggests that leptin signaling during T cell differentiation plays a crucial role in T cell peripheral effector function.
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Cell Differentiation
/
Leptin
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Receptors, Leptin
/
Th17 Cells
/
Obesity
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
J Immunol
Year:
2015
Type:
Article