The human LEP gene encodes Leptin protein, which is secreted by white adipocytes. Leptin is a 16-kD protein that plays a critical role in the regulation of body weight by inhibiting food intake and stimulating energy expenditure. Defects in leptin production cause severe hereditary obesity in rodents and humans. In addition to its effects on body weight, leptin has a variety of other functions, including the regulation of hematopoiesis, angiogenesis, wound healing, and the immune and inflammatory response. The defects in LEP gene may be a cause of autosomal recessive obesity. Plasma or serum concentrations of leptin are increased in obese humans and strongly correlate with the degree of adiposity as expressed by percentage of body fat or body mass index. The recently discovered hormone leptin contributes to the regulation of energy balance by informing the brain of the amount of adipose tissue in the body. The brain may then make the appropriate adjustments in either energy intake or expenditure. Many areas of leptin physiology remain to be investigated. ADI’s Leptin ELISA kit is a highly sensitive sandwich type assay for the measurement of Leptin in human serum. The assay can be adapted to measure Human Leptin in other biological fluids such as plasma, urine, culture medium etc.
