Adiponectin - Multimerization, Secretion and Action

Funded Activity Summary

Adiponectin is a hormone produced by fat tissue. It functions to control blood glucose levels and acts to prevent damage to blood vessels associated with heart disease and stroke. Adiponectin levels in the blood are low in subjects with obesity, diabetes and heart disease, and in animals with these conditions, additional adiponectin is of benefit. It has recently been recognised that adiponectin is produced in different forms - a low weight form made up of a small number of adiponectin molecules and a higher weight form (HMW adiponectin) made up of large numbers of adiponectin molecules complexed together. We and others have shown that the HMW adiponectin is particularly beneficial. This projects aims to understand the processes regulating the production of differing types of adiponectin by fat cells. It will also examine how the different types of adiponectin have their effects in different tissues such as liver and muscle. The information gained will increase our understanding of how illnesses such as diabetes are associated with obesity. It may also lead to the development of treatments aimed at increasing adiponectin levels - particulalry HMW adiponectin - which may be of benefit in patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2007

End Date: 01-01-2008

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $478,844.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Endocrinology

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Biochemistry | Cell biology | Cell surface receptor | Glycoproteins | Hormone signalling | Insulin Resistance | Liver | Metabolic syndrome | Obesity | Type 2 Diabetes

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