Adipokines in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases

Recent studies suggest that adipocyte-secreted factors called adipokines are involved in obesity-associated complications including hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, and heart failure. Among those, adiponectin is an antidiabetic and antiatherogenic protein, concentrations of which are decreased in obesity-associated metabolic and vascular disorders. In contrast, leptin, tumor necrosis factor a, interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 are upregulated in obesity and contribute to the development of diabetes and vascular disease. In this review, the relevance of adipokines in obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases is discussed.