Vascular smooth muscle cell-derived adiponectin: A paracrine regulator of contractile phenotype

► Vascular smooth muscle cells synthesize and secrete adiponectin. ► VSMC-derived adiponectin is upregulated by PPARγ agonists. ► VSMC-derived adiponectin is required for contractile protein expression. ► VSMC-derived adiponectin acts in an autocrine and paracrine fashion.