2023, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (26): 4231-4238

Modulatory effect of leptin on the effector cells of osteoarthritis

Zhou Jing1, Wu Xiaoxiao1, Liu Wan2, 3, 4, Wei Meng2, 3, 4, Wu Miao2, 3, 4, Zheng Lan1   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Leptin is a multipotent adipose factor and peptide hormone synthesized by adipose tissue, which was initially thought to play a major role in appetite regulation and energy balance. In-depth studies have revealed that leptin also plays a role in regulating chronic inflammation and musculoskeletal system diseases.
OBJECTIVE: To review the concepts of leptin and leptin receptor and the regulation of leptin on the main effector cells in cartilage, subchondral bone and synovium in osteoarthritis.
METHODS: By combining English search terms (Leptin, Obese Protein, Obese Gene Product, Gene Product, Obese, Ob Gene Product, Gene Product, Ob, Ob Protein, Osteoarthritis, OA, Osteoarthritides, Osteoarthrosis, Osteoarthroses, Arthritis, Degenerative, Arthritides, Degenerative, Degenerative Arthritides, Degenerative Arthritis, Arthrosis, Arthroses, Osteoarthrosis Deformans) and Chinese search terms (leptin, LP, Ob protein, obesity protein, osteoarthritis, OA, degenerative osteoarthritis, osteoarthropathy, osteoarthritis), PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, cqVIP, and WanFang full-text database were searched for related articles about the effect of leptin on effector cells in the main tissues of osteoarthritis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Leptin plays a regulatory role in the main tissue effector cells in bone joints and affects the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis. Leptin mainly decomposes the extracellular matrix in the cartilage, and promotes inflammation, inhibits autophagy, induces aging and apoptosis, and biphasically regulates the proliferation of chondrocytes. Leptin induces the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, inhibits the activity and proliferation of osteoclasts, affects the remodeling of subchondral bone, and leads to the formation of osteophytes. Leptin regulates synovial macrophages and fibroblasts mainly by mediating inflammatory response in osteoarthritis. Leptin is expected to be a prognostic biomarker and a potential target for the treatment of osteoarthritis in the future.

Key words: leptin, osteoarthritis, cartilage, subchondral bone, synovium, effector cell, research progress