Vascular endothelial cell protein expression of adiponectin is related with vascular endothelial function in healthy older adults

Abstract

Adiponectin (APN) is associated with enhanced vascular endothelial function in humans. Recently, there is some evidence that human renal glomerular endothelial cells express APN mRNA and protein but this has not been established in human vascular endothelial cells. We sought to 1) measure vascular endothelial cell protein expression (VECPE) of APN and circulating plasma APN; and 2) examine their relation to vascular endothelial function in healthy older adults. We measured vascular endothelial function (brachial artery flow‐mediated dilation [FMD] using ultrasonography), APN VECPE (biopsy coupled with quantitative immunofluorescence) and plasma APN (Mercodia, ELISA) in 23 adults (64±2 years; mean±SE, 55 – 79 years; 11 men and 12 women) free from clinical disease. APN VECPE was not related with plasma APN (r=−0.14, P=0.6). Greater APN VECPE was related with greater FMD (r=0.43, P=0.047), lower baseline (r=−0.45, P=0.03) and post‐occlusion shear stress (r=−0.46, P=0.03) and greater FMD/shear stress (r=0.56, P=0.007). Both plasma and APN VECPE were related with impaired renal function (r=0.44 to 0.62, P≤0.04). In conclusion, APN VECPE is associated with enhanced vascular endothelial function and is elevated with impaired renal function in older adults free from clinical disease.Supported by NIH Grant AG032067 & AHA Grant 0865117F.