Possible Interaction: Epinephrine and Leptin

“Recent data indicate that leptin has a specific role in stimulating the activity of enzymes essential for the synthesis of adrenal androgens.”

“Indeed leptin exerts a direct, dose‐dependent inhibition of stimulated cortisol secretion by normal human and rat adrenal cells in vitro.”

“Via its receptor in the hypothalamus, leptin modulates the functioning of the hypothalamic–pituitary– adrenal axis and the systemic sympathetic/adrenomedullary system, which are closely linked to the regulation of energy balance and body weight.”

“A single injection of leptin (0.25-1.0 mg i.v./rat or 0.5-2.0 pg i.c.v./rat) increased plasma norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) concentrations in a dose-dependent manner.”

“In patients with Cushing's syndrome leptin mRNA levels were significantly higher in adrenal fat than in peri-renal (P < 0.05) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (P < 0.001).”

“For instance, leptin suppresses cortisol secretion during stress-related activation of the adrenal axis.”

“ Leptin concentrations were significantly and negatively correlated with epinephrine (r = -0.50, P = 0.001) and free metanephrine (r = -0.48, P = 0.002) concentrations.”

“ Adrenaline in fact acutely reduces both leptin mRNA as well as circulating leptin in human obese subjects, suggesting that catecholamines may influence the cross-talk between energy stores and the centrally mediated modulation of food intake.”

“The interaction between epinephrine and leptin may operate during metabolic and psychological stress to regulate energy expenditure and food intake.”

“During hypoglycemia in all subjects the increase in leptin was negatively correlated with the increase in epinephrine (r = 0.60, p = 0.005) and positively with the decrease in free fatty acids (r = 0.71, p = 0.003).”