Metabolic Messengers: adiponectin

Adiponectin, first described in the mid-1990s, is one of the most widely studied adipokines to date. Studies of its regulation, biogenesis and physiological effects have yielded great insight and improved understanding of the mechanisms that ensure systemic metabolic homeostasis. Here, we provide a brief overview of the current state of the adiponectin field, describing adiponectin's history, sites and mechanisms of action, and the critical questions that must be addressed in the future.