Adipokine

The adipokines, or adipocytokines (Greek adipo-, fat; cytos-, cell; and -kinos, movement) are cytokines (cell signaling proteins) secreted by adipose tissue. Some contribute to an obesity-related low-grade state of inflammation or to the development of metabolic syndrome, a constellation of diseases including, but not limited to, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis.^[1] The first adipokine to be discovered was leptin in 1994.^[2] Since that time, hundreds of adipokines have been discovered.^[3]

Members include:

• Leptin
• Adiponectin
• Apelin^[4]
• chemerin^[5]
• interleukin-6 (IL-6)^[6]
• monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1)^[7]
• plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)
• retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4)
• tumor necrosis factor^[8]
• visfatin
• omentin
• vaspin (SERPINA12)
• progranulin
• CTRP-4

Interleukin 8 (IL-8), interleukin 10 (IL-10), interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and inducible protein 10 (IP-10 or CXCL10) have been shown to be associated with excessive body weight.^[9]

See also

• Adipose tissue
• Hepatokines
• Myokines