Adiponectin, an adipocyte derived hormone, is a 244-amino acid polypeptide bearing structural homology to collagen super family and complement C1q. Adiponectin acts as an anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic and insulin sensitizing hormone that exerts its actions through its receptors-AdipoR1, AdipoR2 and T-cadherin. AdipoR1 is expressed abundantly in muscle whereas AdipoR2 is predominantly expressed in liver. Circulating in the blood stream in the form of trimers, hexamers and high molecular weight molecules, adiponectin is inversely proportional to obesity, diabetes mellitus and other insulin resistant states. Adiponectin lowers plasma free fatty acid levels by stimulating fatty acid oxidation; thus preventing insulin resistance. It protects vasculature by inhibiting activation of macrophages and foam cell accumulation, increasing endothelial nitric oxide production and reducing platelet aggregation and vasodilatation. Hypoadiponectinemia, besides causing metabolic derangement, may also pose risk for the development of coronary artery disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and a wide array of cancers. Perusal of the available literature shows distinct potential of adiponectin as a suitable therapeutic agent to increase adiponectin concentration by upregulation of plasma concentration and AdipoRs or by development of AdipoRs agonists as well as administration of human recombinant adiponectin, required for the effective treatment of obesity-related diseases, ranging from metabolic syndrome to malignancies.
