American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · May 2011
Involvement of endothelial apoptosis underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-like phenotype in adiponectin-null mice: implications for therapy.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is frequently complicated with comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and body weight loss, but the causal link remains unclear. ⋯ Adiponectin-knockout mice develop progressive chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-like phenotype with systemic inflammation and extrapulmonary phenotypes. Hypoadiponectinemia could thus play a critical role in the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and concomitant comorbidities through endothelial dysfunction. Together, adiponectin could be a novel target for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease therapy.