View the PDF of this article at: https://www.the-jci.org/press/20622.pdf
ACCOMPANYING COMMENTARY: Umbilical cord blood cells and brain stroke injury: bringing in fresh blood to address an old problem
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Daniel A. Peterson The Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Rd, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
Phone: 847-578-3411; Fax: 847-578-8545; E-mail: daniel.peterson@rosalindfranklin.edu
View the PDF of this article at: https://www.the-jci.org/press/22540.pdf
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Leptin Has Layers of Control
Leptin is a neurotransmitter that is produced in fat cells and is involved in appetite. Leptin works through the action of several small proteins called neuropeptides, such as thyrotopin-releasing hormone. Many of these neuropeptides are first made in a longer inactive form (called a prohormone) and are subsequently cut into a smaller active form; this is called prohormone processing. While leptin is known to regulate energy balance by controlling whether these neuropeptides are produced in any form, Eduardo Nillni and colleagues, from Brown Medical School and Rhode Island Hospital, theorized that leptin might have an additional layer of control, by regulating the production of the enzymes that are used to convert the inactive prohormones to the smaller active hormones. They tested their hypothesis by examining leptin's effect on two enzymes prohormone convertase 1 and 2, these enzymes cut the prohormone fo
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Contact: Laurie Goodman
press_releases@the-jci.org
212-342-4159
Journal of Clinical Investigation
2-Aug-2004