REVIEW   

Minerva Biotecnologica 2018 March;30(1):36-40

DOI: 10.23736/S1120-4826.17.02337-0

Copyright © 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Adiponectin in hepatology

Ludovico ABENAVOLI ¹ ✉, Luigi BOCCUTO ^{2, 3}, Mario MASARONE ⁴, Rinaldo PELLICANO ⁵, Marcello PERSICO ⁴

¹ Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia”, Catanzaro, Italy; ² Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood, SC, USA; ³ Clemson University School of Health Research, Clemson, SC, USA; ⁴ Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy; ⁵ Unit of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Molinette Hospital, Turin, Italy

Adiponectin is a protective adipocytokine, involved in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, produced by adipocytes. Adiponectin levels are inversely related to insulin resistance and are lower in obese subjects and in patients with insulin resistance. The hepato-protective effects of adiponectin are largely mediated by the coordination of multiple signalling pathways, leading to enhanced fat oxidation, reduced lipid synthesis and prevention of hepatic steatosis. Literature recently highlighted the role played by adiponectin in the development and progression of liver diseases, in particular non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and chronic hepatitis C. In this context, genetic predisposition influences the evolution of hepatic injury. Adiponectin and its pathways are promising candidates for future development in both the pharmacotherapy and the prediction of liver and metabolic diseases.

KEY WORDS: Cytokines - Insulin resistance - Liver diseases - Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease - Hepatitis C, chronic