Description
Adiponectin, also referred to as Acrp30, AdipoQ and GBP-28, is a recently discovered 244 aminoacid protein, the product of the apM1 gene, which is physiologically active and specifically and highly expressed in adipose cells (adipokine). The protein belongs to the soluble defence collagen superfamily; it has a collagen-like domain structurally homologous with collagen VIII and X and complement factor C1q-like globular domain. Adiponectin forms homotrimers, which are the building blocks for higher order complexes found circulating in serum. Adiponectin receptors AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 have been recently cloned; AdipoR1 is abundantly expressed in skeletal muscle, whereas AdipoR2 is predominantly expressed in the liver. Paradoxically, adipose tissue-expressed adiponectin levels are inversely related to the degree of adiposity. A reduction in adiponectin serum levels is accompanied by insulin resistance states, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is also reported in patients with coronary artery disease. Increased adiponectin levels are associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus, anorexia nervosa and chronic renal failure. Adiponectin concentrations correlate negatively with glucose, insulin, triglyceride concentrations and body mass index and positively with highdensity lipoprotein-cholesterol levels and insulin-stimulated glucose disposal. Adiponectin has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity and decrease plasma glucose by increasing tissue fat oxidation. It inhibits the inflammatory processes of atherosclerosis suppressing the expression of adhesion and cytokine molecules in vascular endothelial cells and macrophages, respectively. This adipokine plays a role as a scaffold of newly formed collagen in myocardial remodelling after ischaemic injury and also stimulates angiogenesis by promoting cross-talk between AMP-activated protein kinase and Akt signalling in endothelial cells