Adiponectin activates endothelial nitric oxide synthase through AMPK signaling after subarachnoid hemorrhage

Adiponectin is produced from fatty tissue and has been reported to be involved with metabolic syndrome. Recently, adiponectin has been demonstrated to play a neuroprotective role against cerebral ischemia. In this study, we explored the time-course serial expression changes of adiponectin in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and the effects of adiponectin on cerebral arteries. The concentrations of adiponectin were measured serially until day 14 in CSF of 8 patients with SAH. The CSF samples obtained from 6 patients suffering from an unruptured aneurysm were used as controls. Serum samples were collected from 6 healthy adult volunteers. Rat cerebral arteries were incubated with adiponectin (2 μg/ml). Western blot analysis using AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα), phosphorylated (p)-AMPKα at Thr172, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), p-eNOS at Ser1177 and actin antibodies was then performed. The adiponectin concentrations in serum and control CSF were 17,670 ± 3748 ng/ml and 9.2 ± 3.0 ng/ml, respectively. After SAH, the concentration of adiponectin in the CSF significantly increased on the first post-SAH day and gradually decreased thereafter. Adiponectin significantly phosphorylated both the AMPKα and eNOS of the cerebral arteries. Our findings suggest that adiponectin is significantly increased in the CSF after SAH, resulting in the activation of AMPKα and eNOS. Adiponectin plays an important role against cerebral vasospasm via the AMPK/eNOS signaling pathway.

► We examine changes in the level of adiponectin in CSF after SAH.
► We also explore the effects of adiponectin on cerebral arteries.
► Adiponectin increases in CSF immediately after SAH.
► Adiponectin significantly phosphorylates both AMPK and eNOS of cerebral arteries.
► Adiponectin increases CBF through AMPK/eNOS signaling pathway after SAH.