Leptin and Metabolic Programming

Dear Colleagues,

Leptin was first described as a hormone produced specifically by white adipose tissue (WAT), playing a key role in body weight and food intake control, but is also involved in the regulation of metabolism, reproduction, and development. Later, it was described that leptin is also produced in tissues other than WAT, such as the stomach, placenta, and mammary gland, and is naturally present in breast milk, which has opened a new field of research on the new potential functions of leptin. In this sense, the environment during perinatal life, particularly fetal development and lactation period, has a robust impact on the programming of later metabolic health, and the hormone leptin, present in placenta, mammary gland, and breast milk, has been proposed as a key link on this association. In this Special Issue, we welcome contributions related to (a) the role leptin, particularly during pregnancy and lactation, (b) their physiological relevance and potential interaction with other factors, and (c) the effects of factors or conditions, such as diet and metabolic status, on leptin system and leptin production in body tissues, including placenta and mammary gland, which, in turn, may affect fetal and infant development and programming of future metabolic health.

Prof. Catalina Picó
Dr. Mariona Palou
Guest Editors

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