Cytokine
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Adiponectin is a hormone that together with its receptors modulates a number of metabolic processes including gluconeogenesis and lipid catabolism. It belongs to the C1QTNF (complement C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein) family, which has a variety of members with high amino acid sequence homology and overlapping functions. Concentration of adiponectin in blood is inversely correlated with body fat percentage and cardiac risk factors like blood pressure and CRP (C-reactive protein) level. Studies have identified the existence of a cardiac adiponectin system. However, little is known about the role of this system in the pathogenesis of autoimmune myocarditis. Thus, we have studied the involvement of adiponectin in the development of this autoimmune disorder in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). ⋯ Our study reveals that the absence of adiponectin did not lead to a significantly increased impairment of cardiac function and was also unlikely to be compensated by its receptors or other C1QTNF family members in the murine model of EAM. Here, other synergistic or redundant effects might play a role and must be investigated in further studies to understand the role and function of adiponectin in autoimmune myocarditis.