Adiponectin in insulin resistance: lessons from translational research

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 91; no. 1; pp. 258 - 261S
• Main Authors: Ziemke, Florencia, Mantzoros, Christos S
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Society for Clinical Nutrition 01.01.2010; American Society for Nutrition; American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc
• Subjects: Adipocytes - physiology; adiponectin; Adiponectin - genetics; Adiponectin - physiology; Adipose Tissue - physiology; Adipose Tissue, Brown - physiology; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; cardiovascular diseases; diabetes; DNA, Complementary - genetics; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation; Genetics; Glucose; glucose tolerance; Humans; inflammation; Insulin; Insulin - physiology; insulin resistance; Insulin Resistance - physiology; literature reviews; Male; metabolic syndrome; Metabolism; Mice; Modulators from Bench to Bedside; Molecular Weight; Nutrition; Obesity; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor; PPAR gamma - physiology; receptors; Receptors, Adiponectin - genetics; Receptors, Adiponectin - physiology; Rodents; Sex Characteristics; Supplement: Therapeutic Advances for Insulin Resistance and Diabetes: Novel Pathways and the Development of Selective PPAR; Tissues; Translational Research, Biomedical - methods; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Endocrinopathy; Human; Target tissue resistance; Metabolic diseases; Insulin resistance; Adiponectin
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28449c

Adiponectin is an adipose tissue-secreted endogenous insulin sensitizer, which plays a key role as a mediator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ action. Adiponectin alters glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, exhibits antiinflammatory and antiatherogenic properties, and has been linked to several malignancies. Circulating concentrations of adiponectin are determined primarily by genetic factors, nutrition, exercise, and abdominal adiposity. Adiponectin concentrations are lower in subjects with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. Adiponectin knockout mice manifest glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia and tend to develop malignancies especially when on high-fat diets. Animal studies have also shown beneficial effects of adiponectin in rodents in vivo. Circulating concentrations of adiponectin are lower in patients with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and several malignancies. Studies to date provide promising results for the diagnostic and therapeutic role of adiponectin in obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity-associated malignancies.