The Ratio of High-Molecular Weight Adiponectin and Total Adiponectin Differs in Preterm and Term Infants

Abstract

Adiponectin consists of three subspecies (high-, middle- and low-molecular weight adiponectin). Among these, high-molecular weight adiponectin (H-adn) is suggested to be an active form of this protein. To assess the relationship between H-adn and postnatal growth in preterm infants (PIs), serum H-adn and total adiponectin (T-adn) were measured in 46 PIs at birth and at corrected term, and 26 term infants (TI) at birth. T-adn and H-adn concentrations, and the ratio of H-adn to T-adn (H/T-adn) were significantly greater in TI and PI at corrected term than in PI at birth (p < 0.001). T-adn and H-adn concentrations in PI at corrected term were similar to those in TI, but H/T-adn in PI at corrected term was less than that in TI (p < 0.02). Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the factors contributing to H/T-adn and serum concentrations of T- and H-adn in PI at corrected term were different from those in TI. These data suggest that quality of early postnatal growth in PIs is different from that in normally developed TI. Postnatal growth accompanying adipose tissue similar to TI may be important for PI to prevent future development of cardiovascular disease.

Preterm Infants Have Altered Adiponectin Levels at Term-Equivalent Age Even if They Do Not Present with Extrauterine Growth Restriction

“…We also found higher T-Ad levels and lower HMW% in preterm infants at term-equivalent age, even those without EUGR, than in term infants at birth. The increased T-Ad levels in preterm infants at term-equivalent age found in the present study are inconsistent with the results described in previous investigations [17]. One possible explanation for this could be the number of preterm infants who did not present EUGR at term-equivalent age in the current study.…”

“…The lower HMW% in the preterm infants at term-equivalent age found in the present study is consistent with a previous report [17] whose authors suggested the possibility that subnormal development of fat tissue may reflect decreased HMW% in preterm infants at term-equivalent age. Subnormal development of fat tissue in preterm infants may include the differential distribution of fat tissue such as increased visceral fat [23] and altered number and size of fat cells [24], in addition to greater body fat mass percentage, at term-equivalent age [21].…”

“…Our previous investigation revealed that cord blood levels of bothHMW-Ad and leptin were significant predictors of birth weight, suggesting that HMW-Ad plays an important role in fetal growth, including adiposity development [16]. A previous small-sized cohort study showed that the HMW% in preterm infants at term-equivalent age was lower than that of term infants at birth, although the T-Ad and HMW-Ad levels in preterm infants at term-equivalent age were similar to those of term infants at birth [17]. However, these findings have not been confirmed and are not sufficient to understand the roles of T-Ad and HMW-Ad in preterm infants at term-equivalent age, for the following reasons.…”

Abdominal obesity and serum adiponectin complexes among population-based elementary school children in Japan: a cross-sectional study

“…A previous study reported that the antidiabetogenic and antiatherogenic properties of adiponectin are evident early in life and compromised in youth-onset obesity [19]. Furthermore, among three adiponectin isoforms (HMW-adn, MMW-adn, and LMW-adn), HMW-adn has more biological activity than either MMW-adn or LMW-adn [20,21]. Therefore, abdominal obesity in children leads to lower adiponectin levels, especially HMW-adn levels, which could increase the risk for diabetes and atherosclerosis in the future.…”

High-molecular-weight adiponectin and anthropometric variables among elementary schoolchildren: a population-based cross-sectional study in Japan

“…Previous studies have shown the relationship between T-adn and anthropometric variables among population-based children [6,7], while the association between HMW-adn and anthropometric variables have been evaluated among hospital-based children [8,9]. However, studies about the relationship between HMW-adn or HMW-adn/T-adn and anthropometric variables among population-based elementary schoolchildren have been limited, especially in Japan, where blood collection is not usually performed in the annual health examination at elementary schools.…”