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Adiponectin enhances insulin action by decreasing ectopic fat deposition

The Pharmacogenomics Journal volume 2, pages 4–7 (2002)Cite this article

Adiponectin (also known as Acrp30, AdipoQ, Apm1 and GBP28) is an adipocyte-derived hormone discovered almost simultaneously by four different groups using diverse methodological approaches.1,2,3,4 Very early after its discovery, it was found that the adiponectin gene is exclusively expressed in adipose tissue, which, therefore, represents the only source of the circulating protein. However, unlike leptin, its tissue expression and its plasma concentration are decreased (not increased) in obesity and/or type 2 diabetes. Further work provided evidence that adiponectin may prevent atherogenesis by suppressing endothelial adhesion molecules via inhibition of the NF-KappaB signaling pathway.5,6 Last year, Fruebis et al published exciting novel data showing that a proteolytic cleavage product of adiponectin causes increased fatty acid oxidation and weight loss in murine models of dietary induced obesity.7

In the August issue of Nature Medicine, two studies published side-by-side now show that acute treatment of mice with adiponectin dramatically improves insulin sensitivity in both skeletal muscle and liver tissues.8,9 More specifically, in models of obesity and diabetes, adiponectin improved insulin-mediated glucose uptake by the skeletal muscle and insulin-mediated suppression of hepatic glucose production, both mechanisms leading towards normalization of serum glucose concentration. The effect of adiponectin on skeletal muscle in obese or lipoatrophic mice is mediated by increased expression of genes involved in fatty acid transport and β-oxidation and probably of genes increasing energy expenditure (indicated by an increase in rectal temperature).8 Enhanced thermogenesis and fat oxidation then result in decreased muscle triglyceride content and improved glucose uptake and insulin signaling. In the second study, acute injections of adiponectin to wild-type, ob/ob and non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice resulted in a significant drop in serum glucose concentration in these three animal models.9 Adiponectin decreased glucose output from isolated primary hepatocytes, consistent with the hypothesis that this adipocytokine normalizes serum glucose concentration by suppressing hepatic glucose production.

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  1. Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

    E Ravussin

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Ravussin, E. Adiponectin enhances insulin action by decreasing ectopic fat deposition. Pharmacogenomics J 2, 4–7 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.tpj.6500068

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