Adiponectin Sample Clauses

Adiponectin. Adiponectin belongs structurally to the collagen superfamily and is composed of an NH2-terminal collagen region and a COOH-terminal C1q-like globular domain (Xxxxxxxxx et al, 2008). In the circulation, adiponectin is present in three oligomeric complexes, which have been shown to act though distinct signalling pathways and therefore have different biological functions (Figure 1.3). The trimeric adiponectin, the basic building block of adiponectin is also called the low molecular weight adiponectin (LMW) isoform (Oh et al, 2007; Xxxx et al, 2003). The hexametric adiponectin (medium- molecular-mass) isoform is formed through the disulfide bond-mediated self- association of two homotrimers. The high molecular weight adiponectin (HMW) is the critical form for the biological activity of adiponectin (Oh et al, 2007). As reviewed by Xxxx et al. (2008), both in vitro and animal- based studies support the role of the HMW as the major active form in mediating the metabolic action of adiponectin. It has been established that the HMW adiponectin possesses anti-diabetic and anti-atherogenic functions in humans and mice (Xxxxxxxxx et al, 2004). It has been found that coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with a reduction in the HMW isoform, with either no change or an increase in the hexamer and trimer forms (Xxxxxxxxx et al, 2004). In 3T3-L1 adipocytes activation of AMPK significantly increases the concentrations of HMW adiponectin (Xx et al, 2011). Animal studies showed that the HMW/total adiponectin correlated closely to hepatic insulin sensitivity (Xxxxxxx et al, 2004). Significant weight reduction was also associated with an increase in HMW adiponectin, with no changes to the hexamer and trimer forms (Xxxxxxxxx et al, 2004). In recent studies, HMW adiponectin was associated with TAG/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C (Xxxxxxxx et al, 2011), and administering thiazolidinediones (TZDs) to diabetic patients increased the serum HMW adiponectin , improved glucose and lipid profiles and blood pressure (Xxxxxx et al, 2010).