Validation of an adiponectin immunoassay in human skeletal muscle biopsies

Adiponectin is an insulin-sensitizing adipocytokine that circulates in plasma as multimeric isoforms, including trimers, hexamers and high molecular weight complexes. Although adiponectin multimers have previously been measured by Western blot, this remains a relatively delicate technique that is often hampered by high background or multiple bands. We validated a commercially available ELISA, designed to measure total (low, middle and high molecular weight) human adiponectin concentration in cell culture supernatants, serum and plasma, for its proper use in skeletal muscle biopsies obtained in patients with chronic heart failure and healthy controls.