Title:Protective Role of Adiponectin in Cardiovascular Disease
VOLUME: 19 ISSUE: 32
Author(s):R. Shibata, T. Murohara and N. Ouchi
Affiliation:Department of Molecular Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai, Showa, Nagoya, 466- 8550, Japan.
Keywords:Adiponectin, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease, inflammation, "cardiovascular diseases", Adipos Tissues, "endocrine organ", "herosclerosis", "schemic heart disease"
Abstract:This review focuses on the recent findings that adiponectin plays a significant role of in cardiovascular diseases. Adipose tissue
functions as an endocrine organ by secreting adipocytokines that can directly affect nearby or remote organs. Adiponectin is an adipocytokine
whose concentration is down-regulated in subjects with obesity-related disorders. Low levels of circulating adiponectin appear
to associate with the increased prevalence of obesity-linked diseases including atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease. A number
of experimental studies have shown that adiponectin exerts beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system by directly acting on the component
cells in the heart and blood vessels. The cardiovascular protection by adiponectin is mediated through its ability to attenuate inflammatory
responses and apoptotic activities in the target organs. Thus, adiponectin could represent a therapeutic target molecule for
prevention or treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
