[Role of adiponectin--a protein secreted by adipose tissue in preventing atherosclerosis]

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-specific secretory protein, which seems to play a protective role in different models of vascular injury. Adiponectin infiltrates in the subendothelial space of injured vascular walls and suppresses the expression of adhesion molecules on endothelial cells, thus inhibiting the inflammatory processes that occur during the early phases of atherosclerosis. Adiponectin also suppresses lipid accumulation in macrophages and macrophage-to-foam cell transformation. The ability of adiponectin to act as an anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic factor has made this novel adipocytokine a promising therapeutic tool for the future.