May function as part of a signaling pathway that acts to regulate the size of the body fat depot. An increase in the level of LEP may act directly or indirectly on the CNS to inhibit food intake and/or regulate energy expenditure as part of a homeostatic mechanism to maintain constancy of the adipose mass....

The protein encoded by this gene is a cell-surface glycoprotein and type I membrane protein that was originally identified as a myeloid cell-specific marker. The encoded protein was once thought to be a receptor for C1q, but now is thought to instead be involved in intercellular adhesion and in the clearance of...