Topically administered Leptin, (an anti-obesity hormone) in a novel platform was proven to promote wound healing in a single application by accelerating proliferation, differentiation/function, migration of keratinocytes and enhancing angiogenesis.
- Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to confirm the expression of the leptin receptor (Ob-R) in human and mouse skin and to to elucidate the role of leptin in wound healing of skin.
- Leptin was topically administered to chemical wounds created in mouse back skin along with sustained-release absorbable hydrogel.
- The process of wound repair was histologically observed and the area of ulceration was measured over time.
- The effect of leptin on the proliferation, differentiation and migration of human epidermal
keratinocytes was investigated.
Fig: Effect of leptin on the proliferation of human epidermal keratinocytes. Leptin enhanced cell proliferation at aconcentration equal to and more than 10 ng/mL.
Effects of leptin in wound healing:
- Leptin has a stimulatory effect on the differentiation/function of human keratinocytes.
- Leptin in fact promoted the migration of keratinocytes.
- Leptin exerts its influence on a variety of physiological events such as hematopoiesis, bone formation and angiogenesis.
- Topically administered leptin could promote wound healing in the skin without any side effects.
Interestingly, some epithelial cells of hair follicles were also positive for Ob-R. These findings suggest that epidermal cells and hair follicle cells are target cells of Leptin.
Reference
Plosone 
