Adiponectin and its potential in the treatment of obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance.
Adiponectin is a protein hormone produced exclusively by adipocytes. Its circulating levels are decreased in individuals with obesity, atherosclerosis and insulin resistance, suggesting that its deficiency may have a causal role in the etiopathogenesis of these diseases. Studies have shown that adiponectin administration in rodents has insulin-sensitizing, anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory effects and under certain settings also decreases body weight. Therefore, adiponectin replacement in humans may represent a promising approach to prevent and/or treat obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes; however, clinical studies with adiponectin administration need to be conducted to confirm this hypothesis. Current experimental and clinical data regarding adiponectin physiology and pathophysiology are detailed in this review.
Haluzik
Martin
M
Charles University, Third Department of Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic. mhalu@lf1.cuni.cz
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D011994:Recombinant Proteins