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. The first adipokine to be discovered was leptin in 1994. Since that time, hundreds of adipokines have been discovered.

Members include:


 * Leptin
 * Adiponectin
 * Apelin
 * chemerin
 * interleukin-6 (IL-6)
 * monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1)
 * plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)
 * retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4)
 * tumor necrosis factor
 * 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.