Adiponectin, type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome: lessons from human genetic studies.
Adiponectin, a protein exclusively secreted by adipose tissue but present at low levels in obesity, is now widely recognised as a key determinant of insulin sensitivity and of protection against obesity-associated metabolic syndrome. In this review we explain how genetic findings have contributed to a better understanding of the physiological role of adiponectin in humans. The adiponectin-encoding gene, ADIPOQ (ACDC), is very polymorphic: many frequent exonic synonymous, intronic and promoter single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified, as well as a few rare exonic amino acid substitutions. Several of these variations additively contribute to the modulation of adiponectin level and function, and associate with insulin sensitivity, type 2 diabetes and vascular complications of obesity.
Vasseur
Francis
F
Biostatistics Department Medical School and Public Health Clinics, University Hospital, Lille, France.
Meyre
David
D
Froguel
Philippe
P
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000235:genetics*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005826:Genetics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics
D052242:Adiponectin