SOCS3 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: Hypothalamic inflammation has been implicated in the development of obesity [15, 27], and this inflammation results in the activation of the NF-κB pathway, overexpression of suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS3, a potential mediator of central leptin resistance), and the subsequent development of leptin resistance [35, 40].