CTRP family in diseases associated with inflammation and metabolism: molecular mechanisms and clinical implication.

Abstract

C1q/tumor necrosis factor (TNF) related proteins (CTRPs) isa newly discovered adipokine family with conservative structure and ubiquitous distributionand issecreted by adipose tissues. Recently, CTRPshave attracted increasing attentiondue to the itswide-ranging effects uponinflammation and metabolism. To-date, 15 members of CTRPs (CTRP1-15) with the characteristic C1q domain have been characterized. Earlier in-depth phenotypic analyses of mouse models of CTRPs deficiency have also unveiled ample function of CTRPs in inflammation and metabolism. This review focuses on the rise of CTRPs, with a special emphasis on the latest discoveries with regards to the effects of the CTRP family on inflammation and metabolism as well as related diseases. We first introduced the structure of characteristic domain and polymerization of CTRPs to reveal its pleiotropic biological functions. Next, intimate association of CTRP family with inflammation and metabolism, as well as the involvement of CTRPs as nodes in complex molecular networks, were elaborated. With expanding membership of CTRP family, the information presented here provides new perspectives for therapeutic strategies to improve inflammatory and metabolic abnormalities.