Diabetes Metab J.  2012 Oct;36(5):317-327. 10.4093/dmj.2012.36.5.317.

Clinical Relevance of Adipokines

• Bluher M

• KMID: 2174389
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2012.36.5.317

Abstract

The incidence of obesity has increased dramatically during recent decades. Obesity increases the risk for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and may therefore contribute to premature death. With increasing fat mass, secretion of adipose tissue derived bioactive molecules (adipokines) changes towards a pro-inflammatory, diabetogenic and atherogenic pattern. Adipokines are involved in the regulation of appetite and satiety, energy expenditure, activity, endothelial function, hemostasis, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, energy metabolism in insulin sensitive tissues, adipogenesis, fat distribution and insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells. Therefore, adipokines are clinically relevant as biomarkers for fat distribution, adipose tissue function, liver fat content, insulin sensitivity, chronic inflammation and have the potential for future pharmacological treatment strategies for obesity and its related diseases. This review focuses on the clinical relevance of selected adipokines as markers or predictors of obesity related diseases and as potential therapeutic tools or targets in metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.

Keyword

Adipokines; Adipose tissue; Biological markers; Cardiovascular diseases; Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Fat distribution; Insulin resistance; Obesity

MeSH Terms

Adipogenesis
Adipokines
Adipose Tissue
Appetite
Biomarkers
Blood Pressure
Cardiovascular Diseases
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Energy Metabolism
Hemostasis
Incidence
Inflammation
Insulin
Insulin Resistance
Liver
Mortality, Premature
Obesity
Adipokines
Insulin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Effects of adipokines. Adipokines regulate adipogenesis, adipocyte metabolism, immune cell migration into adipose tissue via autocrine and paracrine signalling. In addition, adipokines have endocrine/systemic effects on appetite and satiety control, regulation of energy expenditure and activity, influence insulin sensitivity and energy metabolism in insulin sensitive tissues, such as liver, muscle and fat as well as insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells. IL, interleukin; TNFα, tumour necrosis factor alpha; MCP-1, monocyte-chemotactic-protein-1; FABP4, fatty acid binding protein 4; RBP4, retinol-binding-protein-4.

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