The Role of Adiponectin and BNP in Predicting Cardiovascular Events

Abstract

Adiponectin and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are hormones released from adipocytes and myocardial cells respectively, in response to different stimuli. Adiponectin is the most abundant adipokine secreted by adipose tissue that may couple regulation of insulin sensitivity with energy metabolism. [1] Decreased plasma concentration has been observed in patients with diabetes, metabolic syndrome and coronary artery disease, and this may play a key role in the development of insulin resistance. The exact mechanism underlying anti???inflammatory properties of adiponectin is not yet well understood but there is evidence that its properties may be related, in part, to its ability to stimulate production of nitric oxide (NO), which is considered to be the potent vasodilator substance produced from endothelial cells. [2] Nowadays, adiponectin is increasingly recognized to be both a potential biomarker for the metabolic syndrome and a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.Brain natriuretic peptide is one of the three major natriuretic peptides, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), B ??? type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and C ??? type natriuretic peptide (CNP), all of which share a common 17 ??? amino ??? acid ring structure and have cardioprotective actions against volume overload. [3] Although this peptide was called brain (B ??? type) natriuretic peptide (BNP), the primary site of BNP synthesis is the ventricular myocardium. [4] Its initial diagnostic value was attributed in its ability to distinguish heart failure from other causes of dyspnea. Moreover, recently BNP and NT???proBNP have been related to other cardiac diseases, such as stable and unstable angina, valvular heart disease and sudden death, adding a new angle in their diagnostic and prognostic roles. In this review, the prognostic role of adiponectin and BNP in cardiovascular diseases will be briefly presented.