Leptin inhibits absorption of amino acids in vivo

Leptin is secreted by the gastric mucosa and reaches the intestinal lumen to bind its enterocyte apical membrane receptors. Fanjul and colleagues previously demonstrated that apical leptin inhibits amino acid uptake in vitro, and now use in vivo techniques to mimic physiological conditions more closely. They found that leptin reversibly partially inhibited the absorption of proline, β-alanine and glutamine. Moreover, leptin regulated galactose and glutamine absorption in the same animal, indicating a direct action of leptin on specific uptake transporters. These results demonstrate that leptin can be considered as a hormone which provides the intestine with a control mechanism to handle absorption of nutrients.

Read the full article at Fanjul et al. (2015) Journal of Endocrinology 224 17–23. DOI:10.1530/JOE-14-0453