Leptin and its receptor in hematologic malignancies

Correspondence: Elżbieta Górska, Department of Laboratory Diagnostics and Clinical Immunology of Developmental Age, Medical University of Warsaw, ul. Marszałkowska 24, 00-576 Warszawa, phone/fax: +48 22 629 65 17, e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Leptin is a cytokine which exerts highly pleiotropic activity serving as an important factor in the processes of fat tissue metabolism and energy expenditure regulation. In addition to that, it is involved in many processes involved in adaptive and innate immunity. Leptin biological activity strongly depends on its proper function and interactions with Ob-R receptor. It was shown, that leptin receptors are present on haematopoietic CD34+ stem cells, cell lines derived from erythropoietic, myeloid and lymphoblastic lineages, human leukemic blasts in acute myleoid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic myleoid leukemia as well as many other types of cancer cells. The broad variety of leptin biological actions make it a good target for research on cancer pathogenesis, including leukemias. Broadening of our knowledge concerning of leptin and its receptor on the hematopoietic system will give an opportunity to understand its relation to leukemia development.