Therapeutic potential of leptin receptor modulators.

Leptin, a pleiotropic molecule mainly produced by adipose tissue, was first discovered as a hormone controlling body weight and energy expenditure. In addition, leptin can modulate several processes in peripheral tissues such as immune response, fertility, hematopoiesis and carcinogenesis. The development of molecules that block or stimulate leptin receptor may therefore serve as a potent tool for studying the role of leptin in mammalian physiology and pathology, but it also may open new possibilities for therapy. This article presents an overview of current knowledge on leptin receptor modulators focusing on leptin mutein, leptin peptide modulators as well as small molecules with heterocyclic structure.