The Role of Adiponectin in Maintaining Metabolic Homeostasis

Background: Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived cytokine closely associated with obesity, altered body adipose tissue distribution, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular diseases. Introduction: Evidence from animal and human studies demonstrate that adiponectin plays an important role in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Adiponectin increases insulin sensitivity and improves systemic lipid metabolism. Although research efforts on adiponectin mostly aim towards its endocrine functions, this adipocyte-derived molecule also has profound autocrine and paracrine functions. Conclusion: In this review, our aim is to discuss the role of adiponectin in maintaining metabolic homeostasis and its association with cardiovascular health. The proper identification of these roles is of great importance, which has the potential to identify a wealth of novel targets for the treatment of diabetes and related cardio-metabolic diseases.