Lower Adiponectin Levels Research Articles

Negative correlation of serum adiponectin level with peripheral artery occlusive disease in hemodialysis patients.

Objective:Adiponectin is a fat-derived hormone that secretes exclusively by adipocytes and has antiatherosclerotic effects. Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) is associated with an increased risk of death in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum adiponectin levels and PAOD by ankle–brachial index (ABI) in HD patients.Materials and Methods:Blood samples were obtained from 100 HD patients. Serum adiponectin levels were measured using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. ABI values were measured using the automated oscillometric method (VaSera VS-1000). ABI values that <0.9 were included in the low ABI group.Results:Among the 100 HD patients, 18 of them (18.0%) were in the low ABI group. Compared with patients in the normal ABI group, the patients in the low ABI group had a higher prevalence of diabetes (P = 0.043), older age (P = 0.027), and lower serum adiponectin level (P = 0.003). In addition, the multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that adiponectin (Odds ratio [OR]: 0.927, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.867–0.990, P = 0.025) and age (OR: 1.054, 95% CI: 1.002–1.109, P = 0.043) were the independently associated with PAOD in HD patients.Conclusion:In this study, serum adiponectin level was found to be associated with PAOD in HD patients.

STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF THE METABOLIC SYNDROME: CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS. RELATIONSHIP WITH PROLIFERATIVE PROCESSES AND ENDOMETRIAL CANCER

This literature review is devoted to the relationship of the structural features of the metabolic syndrome in proliferative processes and endometrial cancer (EC), and the identification of the relationship between the individual components of the metabolic syndrome and the development of endometrial cancer. The metabolic syndrome is currently a global medical and social problem, which is due to the wide spread of this symptom complex in the population. Today, the main concept of this syndrome is the concept of a cluster of components associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It is known that an increase in the mass of adipose tissue above the norm by 20% or more leads to dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian system. At the same time, the risk of RE on the background of metabolic syndrome increases by 2-3 times. This probability also largely depends on the severity of proliferation in the endometrium, which is caused by the presence of dyshormonal and metabolic disorders. In addition, this is due to the aggravation of insulin resistance, an increase in the production of androgens by the ovaries, the formation of stable anovulation and, as a result, the progression of pathological changes in the endometrium. With the onset of peri - and postmenopausal endometrial hyperplasia in about 50% of cases progressing to malignant pathology. The role of the system of insulin-like growth factors, adipokines secreted from visceral adipocytes of free fatty acids, local estrogen formation and hyperandrogenization is also recognized in creating a predisposition to the EC formation. According to the results of the study of the functioning of the autocrine-paracrine system of adipose tissue, the risk of endometrial proliferative processes is higher at low levels of adiponectin and high levels of insulin. All this indicates the feasibility of monitoring the status of adipose tissue.

Role of Adiponectin in prostate cancer.

ABSTRACTObesity is defined as a chronic and excessive growth of adipose tissue. It has been associated with a high risk for development and progression of obesity-associated malignancies, while adipokines may mediate this association. Adiponectin is an adipose tissue-derived adipokines, with significant anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic and anti-proliferative properties. Plasma adiponectin levels are decreased in obese individuals, and this feature is closely correlated with development of several metabolic, immunological and neoplastic diseases. Recent studies have shown that prostate cancer patients have lower serum adiponectin levels and decreased expression of adiponectin receptors in tumor tissues, which suggests plasma adiponectin level is a risk factor for prostate cancer. Furthermore, exogenous adiponectin has exhibited therapeutic potential in animal models. In this review, we focus on the potential role of adiponectin and the underlying mechanism of adiponectin in the development and progression of prostate cancer. Exploring the signaling pathways linking adiponectin with tumorigenesis might provide a potential target for therapy.

Sex Differences in Microvascular Function and Circulating Biomarkers in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Evidence has shown that women have a greater risk for cardiovascular complications than men with T2DM, indicating a sex‐gender specific difference. Further studies regarding the mechanisms of sex differences are required for better prevention and treatment of diabetes complications in women. The aim of this study was to examine the microvascular endothelial function and circulating biomarkers in postmenopausal women (50–67 years) and age‐matched men with T2DM, without a history of cardiovascular events or complications. Participants without T2DM were also evaluated as control groups. This study was approved by the Ethical Committee of UNESP and UNICAMP (Number: 1.548.242). The eligible participants composed 4 groups: postmenopausal women (W) (n=16); postmenopausal women with T2DM (DW) (n=15); middle‐aged men (M) (n=15); middle‐aged men with T2DM (DM) (n=14). All participants were physically inactive, non‐smokers and not taking hormonal replacement or on insulin therapy. Both diabetic groups were on oral hypoglycemic therapy. After resting blood pressure measurement, the microvascular endothelial function was performed using EndoPAT 2000 and expressed as the reactive hyperemic index (RHI). Fasting blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses. All groups were age‐matched and the time of T2DM diagnosis was similar between the groups (DW: 7.5±1.3 DM: 9.6±2.3 yrs). Anthropometric parameters, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipid profile, HbA1c and insulin levels were not different between women and men with diabetes. On the other hand, DM showed a higher blood glucose level and HOMA‐IR compared with DW. Regarding microvascular endothelial function, RHI was similar between DW (1.97±0.14) and DM (1.93±0.12) without alterations in circulating biomarkers: adiponectin, N‐ɛ‐(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML), nitrite/nitrate (NOx−), transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and C‐reactive protein (CRP). Nevertheless, when diabetic groups were compared with the control groups, we observed a higher body mass index (BMI) and abdominal circumference in DW compared with its respective control group. Besides that, DW also presented impaired RHI and a lower adiponectin level associated with increased CML and NOx− concentrations compared with W group (RHI: 2.51±0.13). All these alterations were not found in DM compared with its respective control group. Our findings show that circulatory biomarkers disturbance and microvascular dysfunction are present in diabetic women showing that this population is more affected by the deleterious effects of T2DM than men.Support or Funding InformationCNPq and FAPESPThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Adiponectin-Consideration for its Role in Skeletal Muscle Health.

Adiponectin regulates metabolism through blood glucose control and fatty acid oxidation, partly mediated by downstream effects of adiponectin signaling in skeletal muscle. More recently, skeletal muscle has been identified as a source of adiponectin expression, fueling interest in the role of adiponectin as both a circulating adipokine and a locally expressed paracrine/autocrine factor. In addition to being metabolically responsive, skeletal muscle functional capacity, calcium handling, growth and maintenance, regenerative capacity, and susceptibility to chronic inflammation are all strongly influenced by adiponectin stimulation. Furthermore, physical exercise has clear links to adiponectin expression and circulating concentrations in healthy and diseased populations. Greater physical activity is generally related to higher adiponectin expression while lower adiponectin levels are found in inactive obese, pre-diabetic, and diabetic populations. Exercise training typically restores plasma adiponectin and is associated with improved insulin sensitivity. Thus, the role of adiponectin signaling in skeletal muscle has expanded beyond that of a metabolic regulator to include several aspects of skeletal muscle function and maintenance critical to muscle health, many of which are responsive to, and mediated by, physical exercise.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ АПОПТОЗА, ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ МЕМБРАН-ВЫСВОБОЖДЕННЫХ МИКРОЧАСТИЦ И ВЫРАБОТКИ ЦИТОКИНОВ ПРИ ПОВРЕЖДЕНИИ ЛИМФОЦИТОВ ПРИ СИНТРОПИИ БРОНХИАЛЬНОЙ АСТМЫ И ОЖИРЕНИЯ У БОЛЬНЫХ МОЛОДОГО ВОЗРАСТА

The aim of the research was to study the characteristics of apoptosis, membrane-released microparticles (MRM) formation and cytokines production in case of lymphocyte damage in young patients with bronchial asthma, depending on body mass index. 224 people were examined. In all the patients there was done an assessment of the excessive weight and determination of obesity degree as well as clinical and functional examination; there was performed a determination of cytokines and adipokines; the lymphocytes were separated from the peripheral blood. The number of apoptotic cells was estimated in accordance with the standard protocol; the number of MRM was counted. It was found out that in case of bronchial asthma and obesity syntropy, even at a young age, more often there are patients with moderate and severe clinical course; besides, the severity of bronchial-obstructive syndrome in patients of this group is more significant with the tendency to decrease in FEV1 and FEV1/FVC. In the group of young patients with obesity combined with bronchial asthma in the peripheral blood there was imbalance of both adipokines and cytokines, characterized by evident increase in the levels of pro-inflammatory leptin, IL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, and the decrease in potential body weight regulator IL-15, and at the same time low levels of anti-inflammatory adiponectin. In patients with obesity, the percentage of cells in apoptosis was significantly lower compared to both those in control with obesity and patients with normal body weight. The number of MRM, as cell damage indicator, significantly increased in the group with obesity. It can be assumed that the imbalance of cytokines, adipokines and mechanisms of programmed cell death is a possible pathogenetic factor in asthma and obesity syntropy.

Association of serum adiponectin levels and body mass index with worsening depressive symptoms in elderly individuals: a 10-year longitudinal study

Objectives: Data regarding the association between adiponectin levels and body mass index (BMI) and long-term changes in depressive symptoms are limited and inconsistent. Thus, we investigated whether circulating adiponectin levels and BMI were independently and combinedly correlated to longitudinal changes in depressive symptoms.Methods: This prospective cohort study evaluated 269 elderly Japanese individuals aged ≥70 years who participated in the Tsurugaya Project conducted between 2002 and 2012. A short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used to assess depressive status. Serum adiponectin levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or a latex particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay. BMI was calculated as body weight (kg)/height (m2).Results: Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that baseline serum adiponectin levels were positively associated with changes in GDS scores (β = 0.14, P = 0.035). However, no association was observed after adjusting for BMI (β = 0.09, P = 0.185). Low BMI was associated with increased GDS scores at the 10-year follow-up (β = -0.14, P = 0.033). Participants with a combination of high adiponectin levels and low BMI had a 3.3-fold higher risk of worsening depressive symptoms than those with low adiponectin levels and high BMI (odds ratio: 3.35, 95% confidence interval: 1.60–7.00; P = 0.001).Conclusions: This longitudinal study indicated that high serum adiponectin levels and low BMI were both associated with worsening depressive symptoms among older Japanese individuals. Furthermore, the combination of high adiponectin levels and low BMI was associated with worsening depressive symptoms.

Serum adiponectin is associated with body composition and cognitive and psychological status in older adults living in long-term nursing homes.

Frailty is a geriatric syndrome characterized by decreasing functional reserves and increasing vulnerability to falls, injuries and declining health, leading to dependence upon caregivers. Frailty is associated not only with physical decline, but also with cognitive and psychological impairments in aging people. Higher serum adiponectin concentration has been linked to better performance on frailty measures but also to worse cognitive status. Nonetheless, several studies have proposed adiponectin as a frailty biomarker. To further delineate the relationship between adiponectin serum levels and frailty-related parameters, we studied a population of 112 long-term nursing home residents (aged 84.9 ± 6.7) and analyzed their serum adiponectin levels in conjunction with frailty-related parameters including body composition, physical fitness, cognitive function, psychological parameters and quality of life. Frailty was assessed following the Fried Frailty Criteria, the Clinical Frailty Scale and the Tilburg Frailty Indicator. In women, higher serum adiponectin levels were associated with lower body weight, body mass index, body fat mass, fat mass/height2, lean mass, lean mass/height2 and smaller waist circumference and hip circumference (p < 0.05). In men, the association was positive (p < 0.05) between serum adiponectin and percentage of fat mass and negative between serum adiponectin and percentage of lean mass. Interestingly, in men, better cognitive function was inversely related to adiponectin (p < 0.05) while decreased anxiety was linked to a higher concentration of adiponectin in women (p < 0.05). According to the Tilburg Frailty Indicator, frail men had lower levels of adiponectin than those who were not frail (p < 0.05). Variables that predicted adiponectin concentration in multiple regression models were different for women and men. In women, lean mass and anxiety were independent negative predictors of blood adiponectin (β = -0.363, p = 0.002; β = -0.204, p = 0.067, respectively). In men, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) test was the only parameter to remain significant in the regression model (β = -439, p = 0.015). The results of our study show that adiponectin is linked to body composition, cognitive function and anxiety in long-term nursing home residents with differential relationships by sex. Further studies should be conducted to determine whether adiponectin is a valid and reliable frailty biomarker.

Running wheel access fails to resolve impaired sustainable health in mice feeding a high fat sucrose diet.

Diet and physical activity are thought to affect sustainable metabolic health and survival. To improve understanding, we studied survival of mice feeding a low-fat (LF) or high-saturated fat/high sugar (HFS) diet, each with or without free running wheel (RW) access. Additionally several endocrine and metabolic health indices were assessed at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age. As expected, HFS feeding left-shifted survival curve of mice compared to LF feeding, and this was associated with increased energy intake and increased (visceral/total) adiposity, liver triglycerides, and increased plasma cholesterol, corticosterone, HOMA-IR, and lowered adiponectin levels. Several of these health parameters improved (transiently) by RW access in HFS and LF fed mice (i.e., HOMA-IR, plasma corticosterone), others however deteriorated (transiently) by RW access only in HFS-fed mice (i.e., body adiposity, plasma resistin, and free cholesterol levels). Apart from these multiple and sometimes diverging health effects of RW access, RW access did not affect survival curves. Important to note, voluntary RW activity declined with age, but this effect was most pronounced in the HFS fed mice. These results thus challenge the hypothesis that voluntary wheel running can counteract HFS-induced deterioration of survival and metabolic health.

Oxidative stress and adipokine levels were significantly correlated in diabetic patients with hyperglycemic crises

BackgroundTo investigate the relationship between blood adipokine level and oxidative stress in diabetic patients with hyperglycemic crises before and after treatment.MethodsWe measured superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and levels of 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), adiponectin, leptin, and resistin in 63 diabetic patients with hyperglycemic crises.ResultsPrior to treatment, patients with hyperglycemic crises had significantly lower serum SOD activity, TAC, and adiponectin and leptin levels, and higher serum levels of MDA, 8-iso-PGF2α, and resistin compared with the healthy control individuals (all at P < 0.05). After treatment, SOD, TAC, adiponectin, and leptin levels increased significantly, while MDA, 8-iso-PGF2α, and resistin levels decreased significantly (all at P < 0.05) in the patients.ConclusionsDiabetic patients with hyperglycemic crises have increased oxidative stress, which is associated with serum adipokine abnormalities; improved oxidative stress after treatment suggests that oxidative stress may serve as target and/or indicator for the treatment of hyperglycemic crises.

Association of serum adiponectin with breast cancer: A meta-analysis of 27 case-control studies.

Background:Emerging published studies have indicated that adiponectin is involved in tumorigenesis of breast cancer. However, the results of available studies were inconsistent. The aim of this updated meta-analysis was to assess the association of adiponectin with breast cancer.Materials and methods:PubMed, EMBASE, Wanfang databases, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were systematically searched from inception to June 2018. The mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated and pooled to investigate the effect sizes.Results:Twenty-seven eligible articles that met the study criteria were included in the current meta-analysis. Overall, there was an evident inverse association between serum adiponectin levels and breast cancer (MD = −0.29, 95%CI = (−0.38, −0.21), P < .001). Asian subgroup showed a significant negative association between serum adiponectin concentrations and breast cancer in subgroup analysis by ethnicity (MD = −2.19, 95%CI = (−3.45, −0.94), P < .001). However, no statistical significance was found in Caucasian subgroup (MD = −0.65, 95%CI = (−1.47, 0.17), P = 0.12). Additionally, a further subgroup analysis of Asian stratified by menopausal status showed higher concentrations of adiponectin in healthy control group, whether they were premenopausal (MD = −0.85, 95%CI = (−1.50, −0.19), P = .01) or postmenopausal (MD = −2.17, 95%CI = (−4.17, −0.18), P = .03). No significant difference was observed concerning the association between serum adiponectin and breast cancer metastasis (MD = −1.56, 95%CI = (−4.90, 1.78), P = .36).Conclusion:The current meta-analysis suggests that the serum adiponectin may be inversely associated with breast cancer. Decreased serum adiponectin levels in premenopausal women may also be inversely associated with breast cancer risk other than postmenopausal status. In addition, low serum adiponectin levels in Asian women were more likely to be associated with breast cancer risk than Caucasian women.

Differential Phenotypes in Perivascular Adipose Tissue Surrounding the Internal Thoracic Artery and Diseased Coronary Artery.

BackgroundPerivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is causally associated with vascular function and the pathogenesis of vascular disease in association with metabolically driven chronic inflammation called metaflammation. However, the difference in PVAT surrounding the coronary artery (CA‐PVAT) and that surrounding the internal thoracic artery (ITA‐PVAT), a vessel resistant to atherosclerosis, remains unclear. Herein, we investigated whether CA‐PVAT, ITA‐PVAT, and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) have distinct phenotypes.Methods and ResultsFat pads were sampled from 44 patients (men/women, 36:8; age, 67±13 years) with CA disease who underwent elective CA bypass grafting. Adipocyte size in ITA‐PVAT and that in CA‐PVAT were significantly smaller than that in SCAT. A greater extent of fibrosis and increased gene expression levels of fibrosis‐related molecules were observed in CA‐PVAT than those in SCAT and those in ITA‐PVAT. CA‐PVAT exhibited more pronounced metaflammation, as indicated by a significantly larger extent of CD68‐positive and CD11c‐positive M1 macrophages, a lower ratio of CD206‐positive M2 to CD11c‐positive M1 macrophages, a lower gene expression level of adiponectin, and higher gene expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and inflammasome‐ and endoplasmic reticulum stress–related molecules, than did ITA‐PVAT and SCAT. Expression patterns of adipocyte developmental and pattern‐forming genes were totally different among SCAT, ITA‐PVAT, and CA‐PVAT.ConclusionsThe phenotype of ITA‐PVAT is closer to that of SCAT than that of CA‐PVAT, which may result from inherent differences in adipocytes. ITA‐PVAT appears to be protected from metaflammation and consecutive adipose tissue remodeling, which may contribute to the decreased atherosclerotic plaque burden in the ITA.

Adiponectin: A Predictor for Breast Cancer Survival?

Breast cancers in women with low serum adiponectin levels have been reported to show phenotypes that are more aggressive. In 2008, we investigated the relationship between serum adiponectin levels and breast cancer in our case-controlled study involving 83 patients, in which serum adiponectin levels were measured preoperatively. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between serum adiponectin levels and breast cancer-specific survival among these 83 patients. All 83 patients with stage I-III breast cancer, whose adiponectin levels were measured preoperatively in 2008 were enrolled in this study. The patients had no history of medications influencing insulin resistance prior to collecting the blood samples. Serum adiponectin concentrations were measured after overnight fasting (≥12 hours) by drawing a venous blood sample of 30 mL from the arm. ELISA (B-Bridge Human Adiponectin ELISA kit) was used for testing. The mean adiponectin level was found to be 15,300 ng/mL. When the adiponectin levels of the patients were analyzed according to the stage of the disease, adiponectin levels tended to be significantly lower as the stage increased. The stage of the disease was an important determinant for both Diseas Free Survival (DFS) (p=0.003) and Overall Survival (OS) (p=0.005). A significant relationship between adiponectin levels and OS was also observed (p=0.025), and levels of adiponectin above the mean value of 15,300 ng/mL were associated with improved DFS (p=0.001). Preoperative adiponectin levels may be useful to predict survival rates in breast cancer or may be used as a marker/predictor for defining patients who require more aggressive treatment. In order for adiponectin to be used as a practical clinical marker for breast cancer, large database studies are should be conducted.

Nutritional Status Influences High-Molecular Weight (HMW) Adiponectin levels in Breast Cancer Patients: Comparison with Healthy Controls

Introduction: Breast cancer is the leading killer of women in Malaysia. Nutritional status and adiponectin are modifiable risk factors for breast cancer occurrence which can be efficiently targeted. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between nutritional status and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin levels among breast cancer patients as compared to controls. Methods: This was a case- control study, conducted in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Sains Malaysia campus. Newly diagnosed breast cancer cases (n=55) were assigned as cases while healthy controls (n=58) were staff members of HUSM and USM campus. Sociodemographic and reproductive data were obtained with a standard questionnaire while the dietary data was obtained from a validated diet history questionnaire. Anthropometric assessments [weight, height, hip, waist circumference (WC) and body fat composition] were measured while overnight fasting venous blood samples were analysed for lipid profiles, glucose, insulin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and HMW adiponectin. Results: A significant linear negative relationship exists between WC and HMW adiponectin (β=-0.05; p=0.005) among breast cancer cases. Additionally, HDL cholesterol was positively associated with HMW adiponectin (β=1.83; p=0.010) among the cases. BMI was negatively associated with HMW adiponectin (β=-0.02; p=0.001) among healthy controls. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that WC, BMI and HDL cholesterol had significant relationship with HMW adiponectin. Low levels of HMW adiponectin, low WC and high HDL levels may be protective against breast cancer

Study on the correlation between the changes of TNFR1, TNF-α, and adiponectin in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) refers to pregnant women with impaired glucose tolerance, which could bring high risk to the mother and fetus. However, the early diagnosis and treatment of GDM remained unclear. In this study, 60 patients with GDM were selected as the research group and 50 healthy pregnant women as the control group. Tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and adiponectin (ADP) in the serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were also detected to calculate homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and pancreatic β-cell function index (HOMA-HBCl). Compared with the control group, the serum levels of TNFR1, TNF-α, and HbA1c in research group were significantly increased ( P &lt; 0.05), while ADP showed lower levels ( P &lt; 0.01). Furthermore, FBG, FINS, and HOMA-IR were evidently increased ( P &lt; 0.05), while homeostasis model assessment insulin secretion index (HOMA-β) and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were decreased ( P &lt; 0.05) in research group. TNFR and TNF-α were positively correlated with FBG, FINS, and HOMA-IR ( P &lt; 0.05). In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between ADP and FINS and HOMA-IR ( P &lt; 0.01). From logistic regression analysis, age, gestational age, FBG, FINS, TNFR1, TNF-α, and ADP ( P &lt; 0.05) were shown to be risk factors to affect the function of islet β-cells. In conclusion, the high levels of TNFR1 and TNF-α and the low levels of ADP in the second trimester of pregnancy are the risk factors of GDM, which are related to the insulin resistance and impaired pancreatic β-cell function.

Adiponectin Suppresses Human Pancreatic Cancer Growth through Attenuating the β-Catenin Signaling Pathway.

Adipokines are emerging as a link between obesity and obesity-related cancers, including pancreatic cancer. Adiponectin is an abundant adipokine with pleiotropic beneficial roles in metabolic disorders. Low adiponectin levels are commonly observed in human obesity and have been associated with increased pancreatic cancer risk in prospective epidemiologic studies. Here, we investigated the direct effect of adiponectin on human pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that adiponectin treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cells. Knockdown of adiponectin receptors completely eliminated the antiproliferation effect of adiponectin and markedly promoted the growth of human pancreatic cancer xenografts in nude mice. Further analysis revealed that adiponectin blocked the phosphorylation/inactivation of GSK-3β, suppressed the intracellular accumulation of β-catenin, reduced the expression of cyclin D1, and consequently caused cell cycle accumulation at the G0-G1 phase in pancreatic cancer cells. Adiponectin-mediated attenuation of cell proliferation was abrogated by the GSK-3β inhibitor. In addition, a microarray analysis revealed that adiponectin also downregulated the expression of TCF7L2, a coactivator of β-catenin, at the transcriptional level in pancreatic cancer cells. These results indicated that the protective role of adiponectin against human pancreatic cancer might be attributed to its attenuating effect on the β-catenin signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings support a causal link between hypoadiponectinemia and increased pancreatic cancer risk, and suggest that activating adiponectin signaling could be a novel therapeutic strategy for obesity-related pancreatic cancer.

Serum adiponectin levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Background and Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory polyarthritis of common occurrence. Adiponectin is an adipocytokine shown to exert anti-inflammatory as well as pro-inflammatory effects. Our objective was to study the serum adiponectin levels in RA and explore its association with RA disease activity. Materials and Methods: Forty RA patients (newly diagnosed n = 20, RA in clinical remission n = 20) and thirty age-, gender-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched apparently healthy controls were included. Serum adiponectin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RA clinical remission was defined by a Disease Activity Score 28 of Results: Serum adiponectin levels were significantly lower in RA patients compared to controls. Both groups of RA patients had lower adiponectin levels than controls. There was no difference in adiponectin levels between the two groups of RA patients. There was no association of adiponectin with disease activity or BMI. Conclusions: Serum adiponectin concentration is decreased in RA patients and was not associated with disease activity.

Psoriasis in obesity: comparison of serum levels of leptin and adiponectin in obese subjects - cases and controls

Background:Psoriasis and obesity are somewhat related to a low-grade systemic inflammatory response.Objectives:To determine leptin and adiponectin levels in psoriasis patients compared to control patients matched for weight.Methods:A case-control study was performed, evaluating 113 psoriasis patients and 41 controls with other dermatologic diseases.Results:The prevalence of obesity was 33% in cases and 21.9% in controls. All evaluated comorbidities were more prevalent among cases. When stratified by weight, the comorbidities were more frequent in overweight patients. We found no correlation between being overweight (p=0.25), leptin (p=0.18) or adiponectin (p=0.762) levels and psoriasis severity. When overweight cases and controls were compared, we found differences in the adiponectin values (p= 0.04). The overweight cases had lower adiponectin levels than the overweight controls. We found no differences in the leptin dosage between cases and controls. The overweight cases had higher leptin values than the normal weight cases (p<0.001).Study limitations:Several patients used systemic anti-inflammatory medication.Conclusions:The prevalence of obesity among psoriasis cases (33%) was higher than in the general population (17.4%). We did not find any correlation between severity of psoriasis and inflammatory cytokines and the condition of being overweight. The overweight cases had lower values of adiponectin than the overweight controls. It seems, therefore, that there is a relationship between adiponectin and psoriasis, but this relationship depends on the presence of obesity.

VARIATIONS OF ADIPOKINE PROFILE IN PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH RECTAL CARCINOMA.

Adipokine secretion is influenced by various disease conditions. We wanted to check the impact of rectal carcinoma (RC) on adipokine profile. We evaluated serum leptin and adiponectin levels in 24 RC patients (12 males and 12 females) as well as in the same number of age, sex and weight-matched healthy controls. Adipokines were oppositely correlated with body weight (BW) in controls and RC patients. Women had higher adipokine levels than men. Healthy controls had higher leptin (37.6.±7.8 vs. 7.9±2.6 ng/mL in women and 11.9±4.6 vs. 1.4±0.34 ng/mL in men, p=0.0016 and 0.043) and lower adiponectin levels (9.3±1.1 vs. 14.9±1.1 µg/mL in women and 7.9±0.9 vs. 11.1±0.9 µg/mL in men, p=0.012 and 0.017) than RC patients. Adipokine profiles of patients with RC differ from the healthy population, possibly reflecting an adaptation to the disease rather than a triggering factor. These differences may find clinical applications for the prognosis of disease evolution.

The Association of Adiponectin and Visceral Fat with Insulin Resistance and β-Cell Dysfunction.

BackgroundObesity is a risk factor for metabolic abnormalities. We investigated the relationship of adiponectin levels and visceral adiposity with insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction.MethodsThis cross-sectional study enrolled 1,347 participants (501 men and 846 women aged 30–64 years) at the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center. Serum adiponectin levels and visceral fat were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, respectively. Insulin resistance was evaluated using the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and Matsuda insulin sensitivity index. β-cell dysfunction was evaluated using the homeostatic model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β), insulinogenic index, and disposition index.ResultsRegarding insulin resistance, compared with individuals with the highest adiponectin levels and visceral fat mass < 75th percentile, the fully adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for HOMA-IR ≥ 2.5 and Matsuda index < 25th percentile were 13.79 (95% confidence interval, 7.65–24.83) and 8.34 (4.66–14.93), respectively, for individuals with the lowest adiponectin levels and visceral fat ≥ 75th percentile. Regarding β-cell dysfunction, the corresponding ORs for HOMA-β < 25th percentile, insulinogenic index < 25th percentile, and disposition index < 25th percentile were 1.20 (0.71–2.02), 1.01 (0.61–1.66), and 1.87 (1.15–3.04), respectively.ConclusionLow adiponectin levels and high visceral adiposity might affect insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction.