Adiponectin and its receptors: Partners contributing to the “vicious circle” leading to the metabolic syndrome?

Although already described five years ago, it is only from year 2000, following intensive research in the field of genetics that the adiponectin protein was related with insulin sensitivity, type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. The story began with a paradox as this protein exclusively secreted by fat tissue was dramatically decreased in patients presenting an excess of fat mass. Later this decrease was reported with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome associated phenotypes. The search for genetic variants in the adiponectin encoding ACDC gene and epidemio genetic investigations allowed to associate genetic variations of the gene and phenotypic traits of the metabolic syndrome. One of the major points was the correlation of the levels of circulating adiponectin with insulin sensitivity, leading to a better knowledge of the role of adiponectin. Indeed it is now clearly admitted that adiponectin is an insulin sensitizing cytokine. Recently two adiponectin receptors were described and genetic variations in their genes were associated with features of the metabolic syndrome. Interactions of adiponectin with various partners are discussed in view of a better understanding of adiponectin resistance and insulin resistance.