ABSTRACT
University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China 2Centre de Recherche Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et Pneumologie de
Quebec, Université Laval Y4323, 2725 Chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC, Canada, G1V 4G5
Adipokines, secreted by adipose tissue, are involved in satiety, energy expenditure and storage, as well as immune functions including cytokine production and macrophage activation. Adipokines are implicated in obesity and related diseases (metabolic syndrome (MetS) and atherosclerosis) in adults and children, as well as infl ammatory diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, sepsis). Although some adipokines are produced exclusively in adipose tissue, many can be secreted elsewhere, such as myeloid cells. Metabolic and immune crossroads are highlighted by the recent perception that obesity and related diseases are chronic infl ammatory conditions. Many adipokines have been examined and implicated in obesity/immune-related diseases in adults. In children there is far less data. Based on literature review, the following adipokines were identifi ed in children/ adolescents: leptin, adiponectin, acylation-stimulating protein (ASP), resistin, tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), visfatin and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4). Th e present review outlines data on adipokines in children and their association with (1) obesity, insulin resistance (InsRes), MetS and type 2 diabetes (T2D), (2) obesity-associated liver and vascular disorders, and (3) immune-related disorders.
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