Recombinant adiponectin protects the newborn rat lung from lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory injury.

Preterm infants are at high risk for developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia and pulmonary hypertension from inflammatory lung injury. In adult models, adiponectin (APN)-an adipocyte-derived hormone-protects the lung from inflammatory injury and pulmonary vascular remodeling. Cord blood APN levels in premature infants born < 26 weeks gestation are 5% of the level in infants born at term.