The physiological and pathophysiological role of adiponectin and adiponectin receptors in the peripheral tissues and CNS

Kadowaki, Takashi; Yamauchi, Toshimasa; Kubota, Naoto

doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2007.11.070

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Volume 582, Issue 1 , Pages 74-80, 9 January 2008

The physiological and pathophysiological role of adiponectin and adiponectin receptors in the peripheral tissues and CNS

Edited by Peter Tontonoz and Laszlo Nagy

Takashi Kadowaki
- Department of Metabolic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Division of Applied Nutrition, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan
- Corresponding author. Address: Department of Metabolic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Toshimasa Yamauchi
- Department of Metabolic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Integrated Molecular Science on Metabolic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine,University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Naoto Kubota
- Department of Metabolic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Division of Applied Nutrition, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Integrated Molecular Science on Metabolic Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine,University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Received 21 September 2007; received in revised form 23 November 2007; accepted 23 November 2007. published online 03 December 2007.

Abstract

Adiponectin is an abundantly expressed adipokine in adipose tissue and has direct insulin sensitizing activity. A decrease in the circulating levels of adiponectin by interactions between genetic factors and environmental factors causing obesity has been shown to contribute to the development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis. In addition to its insulin sensitizing actions, adiponectin has central actions in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Adiponectin enhances AMP-activated protein kinase activity in the arcuate hypothalamus via its receptor AdipoR1 to stimulate food intake and decreases energy expenditure. We propose a hypothesis on the physiological role of adiponectin: a starvation gene in the course of evolution by promoting fat storage on facing the loss of adiposity.

Keywords: Adiponectin, Adipoectin receptor, Metabolic syndrome, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), Energy homeostasis, Starvation gene