Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Measuring the Stiffness of Ex Vivo Mouse Aortas Using Atomic Force Microscopy
10:35

Measuring the Stiffness of Ex Vivo Mouse Aortas Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Published on: October 19, 2016

Adiponectin and arterial stiffness

Azra Mahmud1, John Feely

  • 1Department of Therapeutics and Hypertension Clinic, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

American Journal of Hypertension
|December 21, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Adiponectin levels show a varied link with arterial stiffness in hypertension. While adiponectin predicts aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), it does not predict augmentation index (AIx), suggesting complex cardiovascular associations.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular physiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Hypertension research

Background:

  • Adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory adipocytokine, is decreased in conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease (CAD).
  • Arterial stiffness, measured by aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) or augmentation index (AIx), is a significant predictor of cardiovascular mortality.
  • The relationship between adiponectin and arterial stiffness in essential hypertension requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between plasma adiponectin levels and markers of arterial stiffness in patients with essential hypertension.
  • To determine if adiponectin is an independent predictor of arterial stiffness parameters like PWV and AIx.

Main Methods:

  • Seventy-six untreated patients with essential hypertension underwent measurements of blood pressure, carotid-femoral PWV, AIx, plasma adiponectin, and C-reactive protein (CRP).
  • Data were analyzed using univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses.
  • Standard ELISA techniques were employed for plasma adiponectin and CRP measurements after an overnight fast.

Main Results:

  • A significant positive correlation was observed between adiponectin and AIx (r = 0.33, P < .005), and HDL-cholesterol.
  • Conversely, adiponectin showed significant negative relationships with PWV (r = -0.24, P < .05), transit time, and pulse pressure amplification.
  • In regression models, adiponectin independently predicted PWV but not AIx, which was influenced by heart rate, height, mean arterial pressure, age, and gender.

Conclusions:

  • Adiponectin exhibits a divergent relationship with arterial stiffness: negative for PWV and positive for wave reflection (AIx).
  • Anthropometric factors like height, weight, and heart rate may modulate the adiponectin-AIx relationship.
  • Adiponectin is identified as an independent predictor of aortic PWV, but not AIx, in essential hypertension.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound10:08

Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound

Published on: December 2, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) predominantly results from atherosclerosis, which involves the accumulation of fatty deposits, or plaques, within the walls of arteries. This causes them to narrow and harden, significantly reducing blood flow. PAD predominantly affects the legs, particularly the arteries supplying the thighs and calves. In rare cases, it may involve other arteries, including those in the arms.Etiology of PAD:The principal cause of PAD is atherosclerosis, which results from fatty...
Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation01:21

Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation

Clinical manifestationsPeripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) manifests through a range of symptoms, from the characteristic intermittent claudication to atypical presentations and severe complications in advanced stages. Intermittent claudication, a hallmark symptom of PAD, presents as exercise-induced muscle pain that typically resolves within minutes of rest. This pain is reproducible and stems from inadequate blood flow, leading to the accumulation of lactic acid produced during anaerobic...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers01:30

Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers

In the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, a hormone called angiotensin II plays a crucial role. It binds to the AT1 receptors in vascular smooth muscles coupled with Gq proteins. The activation of these receptors activates an enzyme called phospholipase C, which releases two molecules: inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. These molecules cause a chain reaction that leads to the phosphorylation of myosin light chains and promotes interaction between actin and myosin, leading to smooth...
Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests01:27

Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder that leads to the thickening and narrowing of arterial walls due to plaque buildup. This condition can cause various symptoms depending on the arteries affected:Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): This condition affects the coronary arteries and may lead to chest pain (angina), shortness of breath (dyspnea), heart attacks, and other heart disease symptoms.Cerebrovascular Disease: This affects blood flow to the brain, causing transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)...
Hypertension II: Pathophysiology01:29

Hypertension II: Pathophysiology

Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the blood's force against artery walls is excessively high, posing risks such as heart disease. The condition's underlying mechanisms involve complex interactions among the cardiovascular, kidney, and autonomic nervous systems.Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): This system significantly influences blood pressure regulation. When blood pressure decreases, the kidneys secrete renin. This enzyme transforms angiotensinogen, a plasma protein,...
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure01:18

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...