Association between adiponectin and lipids in Parkinson's disease

There is increasing evidence linking Parkinson's disease (PD) to lipids, such as the presence of lipids in the core of Lewy bodies in PD brains or high-molecular-weight adiponectin (APN) in phosphorylated α-synuclein-positive Lewy bodies. This study aimed to verify whether APN levels are associated with neurodegenerative diseases. The association between APN and body weight was also investigated.

The following parameters were measured using venous blood sampling: HDL-C, LDL-C, glucose, and lipids, including APN.

PD patients receiving dopaminergic treatments had significant higher APN than that of de-novo PD, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) or multiple system atrophy- parkinsonian type (MSA-P). Multivariate analysis using ANCOVA revealed a significant difference in APN levels between treated PD patients and de-novo PD patients (adjusted mean difference of -4.273 μg/ml, p = 0.037]), or PSP patients (adjusted mean difference of -4.756 μg/ml, p = 0.034]). BMIs were mildly higher in de-novo PD patients compared to treated PD patients (adjusted mean difference of 1.686, p = 0.074]). After adjustment, APN levels were positively correlated with HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) in patients with PD (regression coefficient=0.479, P < 0.001), but not total cholesterol, or LDL-C. This correlation was not evident in patients with MSA-P, or PSP.

APN likely plays a role in the composition of lipid rafts, particularly in patients with treated PD. The correlation between APN and HDL-C may be a marker that differentiates PD from MSA-P, or PSP.