Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) agonist increases plasma adiponectin levels in type 2 diabetic patients with proteinuria

Adiponectin appears to be an important modulator for metabolic and vascular diseases. A case-controlled study was designed to measure plasma adiponectin levels and investigate the effects of rosiglitazone on adiponectin levels in type 2 diabetic patients with proteinuria. Sixty-four patients (mean age, 46.1 +/- 4.6 yr; 30 male, 34 female) and 26 healthy volunteers (mean age, 45.3 +/- 4.8 yr; 14 male, 12 female) were included. Patients with proteinuria were treated with 4-mg/d rosiglitazone (n = 21, 10 males, 11 females) for 4 wk. Adiponectin levels in patients were significantly lower than those of controls (p < 0.001). There were significant negative correlations between adiponectin concentrations and insulin levels as well as homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index in patient's group (r = -0.538, p < 0.001; r = -0.393, p = 0.001, respectively). There was also a significant negative correlation between plasma adiponectin concentrations and the degree of proteinuria (r = -0.526, p = 0.002). Plasma adiponectin levels in patients with proteinuria (n = 31; 3.91 +/- 2.57 mu g/mL were significantly lower than those without proteinuria (n = 33; 10.15 +/- 1.97 mu g/mL (p < 0.001). After the treatment period, adiponectin levels significantly increased (p < 0.001) and proteinuria, plasma insulin, and HOMA indexes significantly decreased in treatment group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). The results suggest that adiponectin is inversely correlated with proteinuria and treatment with peroxisome prolife rator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) agonist rosiglitazone both corrects proteinuria and increases the low adiponectin levels in diabetic patients.