adiponectin

Overview

Adiponectin is a secreted adipokine and hormone encoded by ADIPOQ that is produced primarily by adipocytes and circulates at high abundance in blood. It is widely recognized as one of the most abundant hormones in the circulation and is closely linked to energy homeostasis, lipid handling, glucose metabolism, and inflammatory regulation. In biomedical research, adiponectin is often studied as a marker and mediator of adipose tissue function, insulin sensitivity, and systemic metabolic health.

At the mechanistic level, adiponectin is associated with signaling pathways involving cAMP, cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit, fatty acid oxidation, and broader metabolic adaptation. Its biology is relevant to metabolic disease, aging, and cancer research, where changes in adiponectin levels may reflect altered adipose tissue function or influence tumor cell behavior and redox balance. The protein is also frequently considered alongside other adipokines such as leptin and resistin, and in relation to pathways including PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α, p53/cGAS/STING, and Nrf-2-SLC7A11-GSH in experimental systems.

Recent Publications Focus

Below is a summary of the newest research publications targeting adiponectin (sorted by publication date).

• 2026-07-06 — HIRA regulates adiponectin expression in adipose tissue

  • PMID 42406969 examined how the histone chaperone HIRA controls Adipoq expression and obesity-associated adipose expansion. The study reported that HIRA is required for expression of Adipoq, the gene encoding adiponectin, as well as lipid metabolism genes in adipose tissue.
  • The work focused on transcriptional regulation and Pol II pause release, indicating that adiponectin production is governed not only by adipocyte differentiation state but also by chromatin-associated control of gene expression.
  • This publication links adiponectin biology to obesity-associated adipose tissue remodeling and suggests that impaired adiponectin expression may contribute to abnormal adipose expansion.

• 2026-06-30 — Adiponectin signaling in metabolic stress-associated Alzheimer’s pathology

  • PMID 42377618 investigated PPAR-γ modulation as a strategy to restore the adiponectin-AMPK-AKT axis in a model of metabolic stress-associated Alzheimer’s pathology.
  • The reported effects included reinstatement of adiponectin levels, enhanced AdipoR1-AMPK-AKT signaling, reduced pathogenic IRS-1 serine phosphorylation, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines, preservation of neuronal structure, and improved recognition memory.
  • This study positions adiponectin as part of a neuroprotective metabolic signaling network and connects it to inflammatory and insulin-signaling abnormalities relevant to neurodegeneration.

• 2026-06-29 — Elevated adiponectin and outcomes after ischemic stroke

  • PMID 41057170 assessed the association between elevated adiponectin levels and 5-year clinical outcomes in Chinese individuals with first ischemic stroke.
  • The study focused on ADPN as a biomarker and evaluated mortality, functional outcome, and recurrence over 5 years.
  • This publication reflects interest in adiponectin as a prognostic marker in cerebrovascular disease, although the provided context does not specify the direction or magnitude of the association beyond the study aim.

• 2026-06-26 — Plasma and CSF adiponectin in biomarker-confirmed Alzheimer’s disease

  • PMID 42360686 examined total and high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin in both plasma and cerebrospinal fluid in a tertiary memory clinic cohort with biomarker-confirmed Alzheimer’s disease.
  • The study addressed whether adiponectin dysregulation in Alzheimer’s disease reflects peripheral changes, central changes, or both.
  • By comparing blood plasma and CSF, the work highlights the importance of compartment-specific adiponectin biology in neurodegenerative disease.

• 2026-06-18 — Sex-dependent metabolic effects of adiponectin during caloric restriction

  • PMID 42313833 studied how adiponectin influences lipid, amino acid, and glucose metabolism during caloric restriction, with a focus on sex-dependent effects.
  • The publication described adiponectin as the most abundant hormone in the circulation and used metabolic profiling approaches, including analysis of fasting metabolites and related metabolic readouts.
  • This work emphasizes that adiponectin’s metabolic actions can differ by sex and nutritional state, underscoring its role in adaptive energy metabolism.

• 2026-06-04 — Adipokines after metabolic bariatric surgery in pregnancy

  • PMID 42240794 investigated maternal cardiac function in pregnancies following metabolic bariatric surgery, with attention to altered adipokine levels, including adiponectin and leptin.
  • The study situates adiponectin within the broader adipokine milieu relevant to pregnancy physiology and cardiometabolic adaptation after major weight-loss therapy.
  • Although the provided context is limited, the work supports the use of adiponectin as part of a biomarker framework for maternal metabolic and cardiovascular assessment.

• 2026-06-01 — liraglutide and adiponectin in cancer cell models

  • PMID 42152582 evaluated the GLP1R agonist liraglutide in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and PC-3 prostate cancer cells, focusing on glycolysis, oxidative stress, and adipokines.
  • The study reported that liraglutide raised adiponectin levels while reducing leptin and resistin.
  • This suggests that adiponectin may participate in the metabolic reprogramming associated with GLP1R-targeted interventions, including potential anticancer effects in cell-based models.

• 2026-05-25 — ADIPOQ-redox homeostasis axis in colorectal cancer cells

  • PMID 41763508 explored cell-type-specific killing by black phosphorus nanosheets in Caco-2 intestinal cells, attributing selective cytotoxicity to downregulation of the oxidative stress-related gene ADIPOQ.
  • The study connects adiponectin/ADIPOQ to redox homeostasis and oxidative stress responses in a colorectal cancer cell context.
  • This work broadens adiponectin-related research beyond endocrine metabolism into cell stress biology and nanomaterial interactions.

• 2026-05-21 — Pioglitazone increases adiponectin in high-fat-fed beagles

  • PMID 42167337 reported that pioglitazone increased fasting adiponectin levels by 54% between day -1 and day 56 in experimental dogs fed a high-fat diet.
  • The study also examined diet-induced insulin resistance and used metabolic testing approaches such as the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and glucose tolerance test.
  • These findings are consistent with adiponectin as a mediator and biomarker of improved insulin sensitivity during thiazolidinedione therapy.

• 2026-05-01 — SLC25A51, adipocyte mitochondria, and adiponectin production

  • PMID 42015379 investigated the mitochondrial NAD transporter SLC25A51 in adipocytes and its role in adipose tissue mitochondrial function and systemic metabolism during aging.
  • The study reported that loss of Slc25a51 reduced mitochondrial respiratory function, fatty acid oxidation capacity, and adiponectin production in adipose tissue, likely contributing to systemic metabolic complications.
  • This publication links adiponectin synthesis to mitochondrial metabolism and aging-related metabolic decline, using adipocyte-specific genetic models including adipocyte-specific Slc25a51 knockout (ASKO) and Slc25a51 overexpressing (ASLO) systems.

Overall, these recent studies reinforce adiponectin as a central node connecting adipose tissue transcriptional control, mitochondrial metabolism, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, neurodegeneration, and disease biomarker research.

Result PMIDs

• [PMID 42167337]
• [PMID 42377618]
• [PMID 42152582]
• [PMID 42015379]

Target PMIDs

• [PMID 42406969]
• [PMID 42240794]
• [PMID 41057170]
• [PMID 42360686]
• [PMID 42313833]
• [PMID 41763508]