Novel variations in the adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) may affect distribution of oligomeric complexes.

Adiponectin is an obesity related protein that mediates the risk of type 2 diabetes in obese individuals with its anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing properties. To date, five functional variations have been identified in the adiponectin gene. However, these variations are rare, and fail to fully explain adiponectin variability, suggesting unidentified causal variations exist.

Adiponectin is present in human milk and is associated with maternal factors.

Background: Previous studies have shown that human milk has a role in the gastrointestinal, neural, and immune development of neonates. If present in milk, adiponectin would be a promising candidate for influencing infant development, given its metabolic functions.

Objectives: Our objectives were to determine whether adiponectin is present in human milk and to characterize maternal factors associated with potential variation in milk adiponectin concentrations.

Targeted expression of a protease-resistant IGFBP-4 mutant in smooth muscle of transgenic mice results in IGFBP-4 stabilization and smooth muscle hypotrophy.

The insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 4 (IGFBP-4), the most abundant IGF-binding protein produced by rodent smooth muscle cells (SMC), is degraded by specific protease(s) potentially releasing IGF-I for local bioactivity. IGFBP-4 protease(s) recognizes basic residues within the midregion of the molecule. We constructed a mutant IGFBP-4 with the cleavage domain substitution 119-KHMAKVRDRSKMK-133 to 119-AAMAAVADASAMA-133.