This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 90/4/2397    most recent Author Manuscript (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Corbetta, S. Articles by Spada, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Corbetta, S. Articles by Spada, A. Related Collections Pediatric Endocrinology

Adiponectin Expression in Human Fetal Tissues during Mid- and Late Gestation

Institute of Endocrine Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico (S.C., D.C., G.M., S.B., P.B.-P., A.S.), Unit of Pathology (G.B., V.B.) and Obstetrics and Gynecology (I.C.), Department of Medicine Surgery and Dentistry, San Paolo Hospital Medical School, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Sabrina Corbetta, M.D., Institute of Endocrine Sciences, Ospedale Maggiore IRCCS, Via F. Sforza, 35, 20122 Milan, Italy. E-mail: sabrina.corbetta{at}unimi.it.

Adiponectin (ApN), an adipocytokine expressed in adipocytes with antidiabetic and antiatherogenic actions, has been detected in cord blood, suggesting a putative role in intrauterine fetal development. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of ApN in the fetal circulation and directly investigate ApN expression in fetal tissues. The study showed high ApN levels in umbilical venous blood from fetuses [n = 44; 31.2 ± 14.1 (SD) mg/liter in umbilical vs. 8.4 ± 4.0 in maternal circulation (P < 0.0001)] that positively correlated with gestational age. By using RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry, ApN was detected in several fetal tissues at mid- and late gestation (from 14 to 36 wk) but not in the placenta. ApN was expressed in tissues of mesodermic origin, i.e. brown and white adipocytes, skeletal muscle fibers of diaphragm and iliopsoas, smooth muscle cells of small intestine and arterial walls, perineurium and renal capsule, and tissues of ectodermal origin, i.e. epidermis and ocular lens. The distribution of ApN expression in nonadipose tissues showed a general decline during the progression of gestation. The unexpected pattern of ApN expression in the human fetus may account for the high ApN levels in cord blood and predicts novel roles for ApN during fetal development.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Baviera, F. Corrado, C. Dugo, M. L. Cannata, S. Russo, and D. Rosario Midtrimester Amniotic Fluid Adiponectin in Normal Pregnancy Clin. Chem., September 1, 2007; 53(9): 1723 - 1724. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A Klamer, K Skogstrand, D M Hougaard, B Norgaard-Petersen, A Juul, and G Greisen Adiponectin levels measured in dried blood spot samples from neonates born small and appropriate for gestational age Eur. J. Endocrinol., August 1, 2007; 157(2): 189 - 194. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Kadowaki, M. Waguri, I. Nakanishi, Y. Miyashita, M. Nakayama, N. Suehara, T. Funahashi, I. Shimomura, and T. Fujita Adiponectin Concentration in Umbilical Cord Serum Is Positively Associated with the Weight Ratio of Fetus to Placenta J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2006; 91(12): 5090 - 5094. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Weyermann, C. Beermann, H. Brenner, and D. Rothenbacher Adiponectin and Leptin in Maternal Serum, Cord Blood, and Breast Milk Clin. Chem., November 1, 2006; 52(11): 2095 - 2102. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Bansal, V. Charlton-Menys, P. Pemberton, P. McElduff, J. Oldroyd, A. Vyas, A. Koudsi, P. E. Clayton, J. K. Cruickshank, and P. N. Durrington Adiponectin in Umbilical Cord Blood Is Inversely Related to Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol But Not Ethnicity J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2006; 91(6): 2244 - 2249. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Kajantie, R. Kaaja, O. Ylikorkala, S. Andersson, and H. Laivouri Adiponectin Concentrations in Maternal Serum: Elevated in Preeclampsis But Unrelated to Insulin Sensitivity Reproductive Sciences, September 1, 2005; 12(6): 433 - 439. [Abstract] [PDF]