Adiponectin Stimulates Angiogenesis by Promoting Cross-talk between AMP-activated Protein Kinase and Akt Signaling in Endothelial Cells

Abstract

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-specific adipocytokine with anti-atherogenic and anti-diabetic properties. Here, we investigated whether adiponectin regulates angiogenic processes in vitro and in vivo.

Adiponectin protects against the development of systolic dysfunction following myocardial infarction

“…In this study, the greater impaired LV function in adiponectin KO mice was accompanied by greater reductions in capillary density, whereas adenovirusmediated overexpression of adiponectin maintained capillary density in the infarct border zone. In accordance with these observations, we have previously shown that adiponectin can function as a survival factor for endothelial cells [41] and that APN-KO mice exhibit impaired angiogenic repair in ischemic hindlimbs whereas adiponectin overexpression stimulates blood vessel growth [14,42]. Thus, the ability of adiponectin to directly affect endothelial cell survival and stimulate vascularization may contribute to the maintenance of myocardial capillary density in response to chronic myocardial ischemia, resulting in the preservation of LV function.…”

Increased plasma adiponectin concentrations are associated with microangiopathy in type 1 diabetic subjects

“…Inflammation markers (possibly involved in the development of nephropathy) have previously been shown to be associated with low adiponectin concentrations in nondiabetic and type 2 diabetic subjects [25]; however, these results are at complete variance with those of the present study. Interestingly, adiponectin can stimulate angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo [26,27]. Thus, the increase in angiogenesis caused by the increase in adiponectin could lead to proliferative retinopathy, which would explain our results.…”

Angiogenesis and development of adipose tissue

“…Adiponectin suppressed VEGF-induced migration of human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) via cAMP/PKA-dependent signaling (Mahadev et al, 2008). However, adiponectin has also been reported to activate adenosine monophosphate kinase in endothelial cells, leading to enhanced in vivo angiogenesis in murine Matrigel plug and rabbit cornea assays and to inhibition of caspase 3-mediated apoptosis in HUVECs cultured in vitro (Kobayashi et al, 2004;Ouchi et al, 2004).…”