Adiponectin and PPARγ: cooperative and interdependent actions of two key regulators of metabolism

The recent advances in the understanding of adiponectin and other adipokines have highlighted the role of adipose tissue as an active endocrine organ. One of the central regulators of adipocyte biology is peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), a transcription factor that induces the adipogenic gene expression program during development, promotes adipose remodeling, and regulates the functions of adipocytes in lipid storage, adipokine secretion, and energy homeostasis. Activation of PPARγ results in increased insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle and liver and improves the secretory profile of adipose tissue, favoring release of insulin-sensitizing adipokines, such as adiponectin, and reducing inflammatory cytokines. Increased adiponectin production is likely a significant mediator of the systemic effects of PPARγ activation. This chapter will review the interplay between PPARγ and adiponectin in regulating metabolism, presenting evidence that PPARγ regulates adiponectin gene expression, processing, and secretion and that the two proteins have overlapping effects on downstream metabolic pathways.