Paul C. Leavis, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
Cancer, embryo, chemical messengers, immune response
Email: leavis at bbri.org

Research Summary
Leptin, a protein hormone secreted by adipose tissue, was discovered in 1994 and was shown to act on the brain to regulate the intake and expenditure of energy. More recently, leptin has been implicated as an autocrine or paracrine regulator of a variety of physiological and pathological processes including but not limited to embryo-maternal signaling during implantation and placentation (see also Ruben Gonzalez), angiogenesis, inflammation, and proliferation of certain cancer cells. As a tool for studying leptin, we have synthesized several peptides that bind to the leptin receptor and block leptin signaling. We are currently studying the ability of these leptin antagonist peptides to inhibit growth and adhesion of breast and endometrial cancer cells.

Selected Publications
Gonzalez RR, Rueda BR, Ramos MP, Littell RD, Glasser S, Leavis PC. Leptin-induced increase in leukemia inhibitory factor and its receptor by human endometrium is partially mediated by interleukin 1 receptor signaling. Endocrinology. 2004 Aug;145(8):3850-7.

Je HD, Gallant C, Leavis PC, Morgan KG. Caveolin-1 regulates contractility in differentiated vascular smooth muscle. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2004 Jan;286(1):H91-8.

Gonzalez RR, Leavis PC. A peptide derived from the human leptin molecule is a potent inhibitor of the leptin receptor function in rabbit endometrial cells. Endocrine. 2003 Jul;21(2):185-95.

Gonzalez, R. R., Leary, K., Petrozza, J. C. & Leavis, P. C. Leptin regulation of the interleukin-1 system in human endometrial cells. Mol Hum Reprod 2003 9(3), 151-8.

Barnea, E.R., Aboagye-Mathiesen, G., Hatch, W.C. & P.C. Leavis (2001) Pregnancy derived compounds that control proliferation. Cancer & Pregnancy, Barnea, E.R., Jauniaux, E., Schwartz, P.E. (eds) Springer-Verlag London.

PubMed:
Click here for a list of publications (searches the National Library of Medicine's PubMed database.)