Adipose Tissue Adiponectin Production and Adiponectin Serum Concentration in Human Obesity and Insulin Resistance

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 89; no. 3; pp. 1391 - 1396
• Main Authors: Hoffstedt, Johan, Arvidsson, Elisabet, Sjölin, Eva, Wåhlén, Kerstin, Arner, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Endocrine Society 01.03.2004; Copyright by The Endocrine Society
• Subjects: Adiponectin; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Adipose Tissue - secretion; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight; Endocrinopathies; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Middle Aged; Obesity - metabolism; Proteins - genetics; Proteins - metabolism; Proteins - secretion; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Adipocytokine; Obesity; Target tissue resistance; Adipose tissue; Insulin human; Nutrition disorder; Serum; Endocrinology; Nutritional status; Adiponectin
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.2003-031458

The role of adiponectin production for the circulating protein concentration in human obesity and insulin resistance is unclear. We measured serum concentration and sc adipose tissue secretion rate of adiponectin in 77 obese and 23 nonobese women with a varying degree of insulin sensitivity. The serum adiponectin concentration was similar in both groups. In obesity, adiponectin adipose tissue secretion rate per weight unit was reduced by 30% (P = 0.01), whereas total body fat secretion rate was increased by 100% (P < 0.0001). In the group being most insulin resistant (1/3), serum concentration (P < 0.001) and adipose tissue secretion rate per tissue weight (P < 0.05) were reduced, whereas total body fat secretion rate was increased (P < 0.01), by about 30%. The adipose tissue secretion rate of adiponectin was related to the serum concentration (P = 0.005) but explained only about 10% of the interindividual variation in circulating adiponectin and insulin sensitivity. The plasma adiponectin half life was long, 2.5 h. In conclusion, the role of protein secretion for the circulating concentration of adiponectin and insulin sensitivity under these conditions is minor because adiponectin turnover rate is slow. Although increased in obesity and insulin resistance, total body production of adiponectin is insufficient to raise the circulating concentration, may be due to reduced secretion rate per tissue unit.