Leptin receptor

Leptin receptor also known as LEP-R or OB-R is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the LEPR is_associated_with::gene. LEP-R functions as a receptor for the fat cell-specific hormone is_associated_with::leptin. LEP-R has also been designated as CD295 (is_associated_with::cluster of differentiation 295).

After co-discovering the Leptin gene with Jeffrey Friedman et al. in 1994, which involved a reverse genetic/is_associated_with::positional cloning strategy to clone ob and db, is_associated_with::Rudolph Leibel, working with collaborators at is_associated_with::Millennium Pharmaceuticals and colleague Streamson Chua, confirmed cloning of the is_associated_with::leptin receptor by demonstrating that an apparent leptin receptor cloned from a choroid plexus library using leptin as ligand, mapped to a physical map that included db and fa.

Function
The is_associated_with::leptin hormone regulates adipose-tissue mass through is_associated_with::hypothalamus effects on hunger and energy use. It acts through the leptin receptor (LEP-R), a single-transmembrane-domain receptor of the is_associated_with::cytokine receptor family.

Clinical significance
Variations in the leptin receptor have been associated with is_associated_with::obesity and with increased susceptibility to is_associated_with::Entamoeba histolytica infections.

Animals models
The db/db mouse is a model of is_associated_with::obesity, is_associated_with::diabetes, and is_associated_with::dyslipidemia wherein leptin receptor activity is deficient because the mice are is_associated_with::homozygous for a is_associated_with::point mutation in the gene for the leptin receptor. In db/db mice, induced swimming helped to overcome obesity by upregulating is_associated_with::uncoupling proteins.