adipokineid

Adipokineid, the Estonian term for adipokines, are signaling molecules produced primarily by adipose tissue that function as hormones and cytokines to regulate energy balance, metabolism, and immune responses. They form part of the body's endocrine signaling network and influence distant organs such as the liver, muscle, brain, and vasculature. Their secretion and action vary with adiposity and metabolic status and can be altered in obesity.

They are produced by adipocytes and by cells of the stromal vascular fraction within adipose tissue. They are released into circulation and can act in autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine manners. Factors such as insulin, glucocorticoids, and inflammatory cues modulate their expression. The most well-studied adipokineid include leptin, adiponectin, resistin, and pro-inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6; others include visfatin, omentin, and vaspin.

Functions of adipokineid include appetite regulation and energy expenditure (for example, leptin) and insulin sensitivity and anti-inflammatory effects (for example, adiponectin); many pro-inflammatory adipokineid contribute to insulin resistance and metabolic inflammation. The balance of adipokineid influences glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, blood pressure, and vascular function. In obesity, adipose tissue expands and shifts toward a pro-inflammatory profile, promoting systemic metabolic dysfunction.

Clinical relevance: Altered adipokineid profiles are linked to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and certain cancers. They are studied as biomarkers and as potential therapeutic targets to improve insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation, and treat metabolic diseases.