Adiponectin's Role in Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health
Summary
Adiponectin is an adipose-derived hormone that orchestrates essential pathways in glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation and vascular homeostasis. By activating AMP-activated protein kinase and modulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α, adiponectin enhances insulin sensitivity, promotes fatty acid oxidation and suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis. In the vasculature, it attenuates endothelial dysfunction, inhibits smooth muscle proliferation and reduces atherogenic lesion formation. Clinically, low circulating adiponectin is a hallmark of obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, while paradoxically high levels have emerged as predictors of adverse outcomes in chronic renal and cardiovascular disease. Ongoing research seeks to harness adiponectin’s beneficial signalling—for example via receptor agonists or gene-delivery platforms—to restore metabolic balance and protect against cardiovascular events.
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Adiponectin's Role in Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in adiponectin's role in metabolic and cardiovascular health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Adiponectin: A protein hormone secreted by fat cells that regulates glucose and lipid metabolism and modulates inflammation.
Adipokine: Any bioactive molecule released by adipose tissue that influences metabolic and inflammatory processes.
Insulin resistance: A physiological state in which target tissues respond inadequately to normal insulin levels, leading to impaired glucose uptake.
Atherosclerosis: A chronic vascular condition characterised by lipid deposition, inflammation and plaque formation within arterial walls.
Carotid-intima media thickness (cIMT): A non-invasive ultrasound measure of the combined thickness of the intimal and medial layers of the carotid artery, used as a surrogate for atherosclerotic burden.
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs): Biodegradable vesicles used to encapsulate and deliver nucleic acids or drugs to specific tissues.
Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α): A pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in systemic inflammation and immune regulation.
References
- Sex-specific associations between adipokine profiles and carotid-intima media thickness in the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (CCHC). Cardiovascular Diabetology (2023).
- Adiponectin mRNA Conjugated with Lipid Nanoparticles Specifically Targets the Pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes. Aging and Disease (2024).
- Mediating effect of adiponectin between free fatty acid and tumor necrosis factor-α in patients with diabetes. Nutrition & Diabetes (2024).
- Mechanisms of Adiponectin Action: Implication of Adiponectin Receptor Agonism in Diabetic Kidney Disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2019).
- Evidence of a causal relationship between high serum adiponectin levels and increased cardiovascular mortality rate in patients with type 2 diabetes. Cardiovascular Diabetology (2016).
- High serum adiponectin as a biomarker of renal dysfunction: Results from the KNOW-CKD study. Scientific Reports (2020).
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