Researchers at the Michigan State University have found out that leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells and considered as an appetite-controlling hormone, has the ability to affect the immune system where natural versions of some steroids fail to deliver.
This study was reported in an online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It was revealed by Pamela Fraker, MSU professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and lead scientist that the neuroendocrine system plays an all-important role in both the immune system and obesity.
From News-Medical.Net:
To further study leptin’s effect on the immune system, Fraker and her colleagues are planning a study on morbidly obese people who will be having gastric bypass surgery. While the outcome of the surgery is highly successful for most people, mortality rates can range from 2 percent to 10 percent, which is significant.
“Infection from poor wound healing, which is the result of reduced immune function, is one reason people die from the surgery,” Fraker said. “We’re going to measure people’s immune function before and after surgery to see how much it improves, as well as how fast it improves.”
Other members of this research team are MSU scientists Louis King, research assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, and Kate Claycombe, assistant professor of food science and human nutrition.
While corticosteroids, such as prednisone, reduce inflammation, they also inhibit the body’s immune system – a person taking prescription steroids is more susceptible to infection. Another MSU research team found that corticosteroids produced naturally in the body don’t have this same immunosuppressive effect.
It was remarked by Fraker and his team that the naturally-produced versions of steroids do not affect the immune system like the pharmacological versions and pharmaceutical companies need to aim for synthesizing natural versions of the steroids.
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