Amylin and Leptin: Co-Regulators of Energy Homeostasis and Neuronal Development

While the regulation of energy homeostasis by amylin is already well characterized, emerging data suggest that amylin is also crucial for the development of neural pathways in the hypothalamus and caudal hindbrain (area postrema, AP; nucleus tractus solitarius, NTS). Exciting new findings demonstrate crucial amylin-leptin interactions in altering the activity of specific hypothalamic and AP neurons, and a role for amylin as a novel class of leptin sensitizers' which enhance leptin signaling in both leptin-sensitive and -resistant individuals, in part by stimulating IL-6 production by hypothalamic microglia. This review summarizes these findings and provides a hypothetical framework for future studies to elucidate the mechanisms by which amylin and leptin act individually and as co-conspirators to alter energy homeostasis and neuronal development.