Adiponectin as a Target in Obesity-related Inflammatory State

Accumulating evidence indicates that low grade inflammation is closely associated with obesity-related disorders including type 2 diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Adiponectin is a fat-derived plasma protein with anti-inflammatory functions. Circulating levels of adiponectin are decreased in obese states, and these conditions are broadly associated with various obesity-related diseases. Furthermore, adiponectin has direct protective functions against cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this review, we will focus on the protective functions of adiponectin against these obesity-related diseases from the view point of its anti-inflammatory properties.