A human clinical trial currently under way at UT Southwestern aims to determine whether adding leptin to standard insulin therapy might help rein in the tumultuous blood-sugar levels of people with type 1 diabetes.

"It might be that leptin treatment is not going to be effective or well-tolerated or that it might cause unwanted effects," Dr. Coppari said. "However, if we understand the mechanisms and how leptin improves type 1 diabetes, then perhaps we can develop alternatives to harness those mechanisms."

The next step, Dr. Coppari said, is to determine which specific nerve cells in the brain are responsible for the anti-type 1 diabetic actions of leptin.

"Living without insulin was once considered impossible, but our results have shown that it is possible when leptin receptor signaling in the brain is enhanced. If we can identify which neurons are responsible for driving the anti-type 1 diabetic actions of leptin, we may eventually develop better therapies for individuals with type 1 diabetes."

Source: UT Southwestern Medical Center