Adipocytokines and cardio-renal diseases

脂肪组织通过分泌脂肪细胞因子来发挥内分泌器官的作用，这些脂肪细胞因子可以直接影响附近或远处的器官。脂联素是一种脂肪细胞因子，其浓度在肥胖相关疾病的受试者中被下调。低水平的循环脂联素似乎与肥胖相关疾病的发病率增加有关，包括心脏和肾功能障碍。在我们的研究中，我们已经证明，脂联素通过直接作用于心脏和肾脏的组成细胞，对心脏-肾脏系统产生有益的影响。脂联素的心血管保护作用是通过抑制靶器官中的细胞凋亡活性来实现的。因此，脂联素可作为防治心肾疾病的靶向分子。

Adipose tissue functions as an endocrine organ by secreting adipocytokines that can directly affect nearby or remote organs. Adiponectin is an adipocytokine whose concentration is down-regulated in subjects with obesity-related disorders. Low levels of circulating adiponectin appear to associate with the increased prevalence of obesity-linked diseases including cardiac and renal dysfunction. In our study, we have shown that adiponectin exerts beneficial effects on the cardio-renal system by directly acting on the component cells in the heart and kidney. The cardiovascular protection by adiponectin is mediated through its ability to attenuate apoptotic activity in the target organs. Thus, adiponectin could represent a therapeutic target molecule for prevention or treatment of cardio-renal diseases.