Abstract
It is generally accepted that adipose tissue is an endocrine organ producing number of hormones. These hormones play an important role in the food intake regulation and significantly affect the development of atherosclerosis and insulin resistance respectively.
Adiponectin - a recently discovered adipocyte-derived hormone - is one of the most extensively studied adipocytokines. There is a growing number of both experimental and clinical evidence suggesting that adiponectin is an important ethiopathogenic factor in the development of insulin resistance, diabetes and atherosclerosis.
The aim of this article is to review the current state of knowledge concerning the regulation of adiponectin production and its relationship to above mentioned diseases. The possible therapeutic potential of this hormone in the treatment of insulin resistance and/or atherosclerosis will be also discused.