Positive association of adiponectin with soluble thrombomodulin, von Willebrand factor and soluble VCAM-1 in dyslipidemic subjects

• Many atheroprotective properties of adiponectin were described.
• Despite this increased risk of mortality was found with high adiponectin levels.
• We have found positive association of adiponectin with vWF, sTM and sVCAM-1.
• This might predispose to high mortality risk associated with high adiponectin levels.

ObjectivesBoth decreased and increased risk of cardiovascular events/mortality have been reported with high adiponectin levels. Only a few studies have reported an association of adiponectin with markers of hemostasis/endothelial dysfunction which might explain the reported discrepancies.Design and methodsWe evaluated the association of total adiponectin with von Willebrand factor (vWF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), soluble thrombomodulin (sTM), adhesion molecules sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1, lipids and markers of insulin resistance (IR) in 308 asymptomatic dyslipidemic subjects and healthy controls. Subjects were divided into 4 dyslipidemic phenotypes (DLP): DLP1 (TG < 1.5 mmol/L + ApoB < 1.2 g/L), DLP2 (TG ≥ 1.5 + ApoB < 1.2), DLP3 (TG < 1.5 + ApoB ≥ 1.2) and DLP4 (TG ≥ 1.5 + ApoB ≥ 1.2). The results were evaluated also according to the presence (+) and absence (−) of metabolic syndrome (MS).ResultsIn hyperlipidemic subjects (DLP2–4), PAI-1, t-PA and sICAM-1 correlated with markers of IR but only t-PA correlated inversely with adiponectin. In contrast positive association of adiponectin with vWF, sTM and sVCAM-1 was found but none of these parameters correlated with markers of insulin resistance. In multiple regression analysis, adiponectin remained independently associated with vWF [in DLP3, DLP4, DLP2–4, MS(−)], with sTM [in DLP2, DLP4, DLP2–4, MS(+)] and with sVCAM-1 [in DLP2, DLP3, DLP4, DLP2–4, MS(+)]. In healthy controls (DLP1), no association between adiponectin and markers of hemostasis/endothelial dysfunction was found.ConclusionThe independent positive association of adiponectin with vWF, sTM and sVCAM-1 deserves further evaluation in connection with the risk of atherothrombotic cardiovascular events.