Adipokine adiponectin is a potential protector to human bronchial epithelial cell for regulating proliferation, wound repair and apoptosis: Comparison with leptin and resistin

► gAd promoted proliferation and wound repair via Ca2+/CaM pathway in 16HBE14-cells, not leptin nor resistin. ► gAd inhibited ozone induced apoptosis which attributes to inhibit the ROS production. Leptin or resistin had no effect. ► 16HBE14-cells express adiponectin and its receptors, particularly adipoR1, there may be a feedback regulation between gAd and adipoR1.