Roles of adiponectin in metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Adiponectin (ApN) is a white adipose tissue hormone that has insulin sensitizing effects. ApN exerts its actionsthrough specific receptors, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2, thereby contributing to reduce hepatic glucose production and increaseglucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation. ApN level is decreased in obesity and is inversely correlated to obesity, type2 diabetes and other insulin-resistant states. Hypoadiponectinemia is implicated in the pathogenesis of the metabolicsyndrome and atherosclerosis. Experimental evidences indicate that ApN possesses anti-diabetic, anti-atherogenic andanti-inflammatory properties. In the future, ApN may be used beneficially as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker aswell as the promising therapeutic target to prevent and treat these disorders.

Key words: Adiponectin, Metabolic syndrome, Obesity, Insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, Atherosclerosis