Leptin Promotes Wound Healing in the Oral Mucosa

Abstract

IntroductionLeptin, a 16 kDa circulating anti-obesity hormone, exhibits many physiological properties. Recently, leptin was isolated from saliva; however, its function in the oral cavity is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the physiological role of leptin in the oral cavity by focusing on its effect on wound healing in the oral mucosa.MethodsImmunohistochemical analysis was used to examine the expression of the leptin receptor (Ob-R) in human/rabbit oral mucosa. To investigate the effect of leptin on wound healing in the oral mucosa, chemical wounds were created in rabbit oral mucosa, and leptin was topically administered to the wound. The process of wound repair was histologically observed and quantitatively analyzed by measuring the area of ulceration and the duration required for complete healing. The effect of leptin on the proliferation, differentiation and migration of human oral mucosal epithelial cells (RT7 cells) was investigated using crystal violet staining, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and a wound healing assay, respectively.ResultsOb-R was expressed in spinous/granular cells in the epithelial tissue and vascular endothelial cells in the subepithelial connective tissue of the oral mucosa. Topical administration of leptin significantly promoted wound healing and shortened the duration required for complete healing. Histological analysis of gingival tissue beneath the ulceration showed a denser distribution of blood vessels in the leptin-treated group. Although the proliferation and differentiation of RT7 cells were not affected by leptin, the migration of these cells was accelerated in the presence of leptin.ConclusionTopically administered leptin was shown to promote wound healing in the oral mucosa by accelerating epithelial cell migration and enhancing angiogenesis around the wounded area. These results strongly suggest that topical administration of leptin may be useful as a treatment to promote wound healing in the oral mucosa.

The functions of human saliva: A review sponsored by the World Workshop on Oral Medicine VI

“…The histatin 1 in saliva also stimulates the migration of epithelial cells and fibroblasts, 124 which facilitates the closure of wounds. More recently, Umeki et al, 125 showed that leptin, an anti-obesity hormone present in saliva, 126 promotes wound healing by stimulating angiogenesis.…”

Fitoterapias en Lesiones de Mucosa Oral: Propiedades Reparativas y Aplicación Clínica. Revisión Sistemática de la Literatura

“…El mantenimiento de la integridad de la mucosa oral es críticamente importante, no sólo para la función oral sino también para la salud general (Umeki et al, 2014), por lo cual la utilización de distintos compuestos de origen herbal que aceleren la reparación de los tejidos orales, se presenta como una alternativa válida hoy en día.…”

Place of Leptin in Dermatology

“…Leptinin yara iyileşmesindeki rolü yapılan bir çok çalışma ile ortaya konulmuştur (12)(13)(14). Lokal leptin sentezi ve sekresyonun derideki bir yaralanmanın sonrasında yükseldiği ve leptin eksikliği olan hayvanlarda yara iyileşmesinin bozulduğu ve geciktiği de gösterilmiştir.…”

“…Fakat oral mukozasında kimyasal yaralanması olan tavşanlarda topikal leptin uygulaması sonucunda epitelyum hücre migrasyonun artışı ve anjiyogenezisin sağlanması ile oral mukoza lezyonlarında yara iyileşmesinin sağlanması sürecinde leptinin topikal olarak tedavide kullanılabileceği bildirilmiştir (12).…”