Circulating adiponectin reflects severity of liver disease but not insulin sensitivity in liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Background. The adipocytokine adiponectin has been proposed to play important roles in the regulation of energy homeostasis, insulin sensitivity and shows anti-inflammatory properties. Aim. In this study we investigated the role of circulating adiponectin in different chronic liver diseases, its regulation by systemic anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α treatment and its hepatic metabolism. Patients and methods. Plasma adiponectin levels were determined in 87 patients with liver cirrhosis of different aetiologies, seven patients with alcoholic steatohepatitis undergoing systemic anti-TNF-α treatment, in 11 patients with liver cirrhosis receiving transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt implantation and in 21 healthy controls. Results. Adiponectin levels were significantly higher in all subjects with liver cirrhosis of different aetiologies when compared with healthy controls and increased dependent on Child-Pugh classification. In subjects with alcoholic steatohepatitis, systemic anti-TNF-α treatment caused a significant decrease in circulating adiponectin. Adiponectin concentrations were similar in portal, hepatic and peripheral veins. No correlation between adiponectin levels and insulin resistance was found in any patient group. Conclusions. Our data suggest that circulating adiponectin is increased in liver cirrhosis independent of the aetiology of liver disease. We suggest that high adiponectin levels in chronic liver disease might reflect one of the body's antiinflammatory mechanisms in chronic liver diseases. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.