Adipokine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The adipokines or adipocytokines are a group of cytokines (cell-to-cell signalling proteins) secreted by adipose tissue.
Members include:
- leptin (Ob ligand)
- adiponectin
- resistin
- plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)
- tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα)
- visfatin
- retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4)
Their relative roles in modifying appetite, insulin resistance and atherosclerosis are the subjects of intense research, as they may be modifyable causes of morbidity in people with obesity.
