Adiponectin oligomerization state and adiponectin receptors airway expression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Adiponectin (Acrp30) shows several beneficial properties and circulates as different oligomers. The role of Acrp30 in lung is not fully clear, but a link with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been highlighted. In this study, we analyzed the anthropometrical and biochemical features and evaluated total Acrp30 levels of a COPD cohort without metabolic complications compared to healthy controls. In addition, being the oligomerization state critical for its biological activities, we characterized the pattern of Acrp30 circulating oligomers focusing on the high molecular weight (HMW) oligomers to verify whether it correlates to COPD. Finally, we investigated AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 expression in lung from COPD. Interestingly, we found for the first time that the oligomerization state of Acrp30 is altered in COPD; particularly, we observed that the higher levels of Acrp30 are associated with a significant and specific increase of HMW. In addition, we demonstrated the presence of AdipoRs with a lower expression of AdipoR2 compared to AdipoR1. In conclusion, we demonstrated that in COPD, the higher levels of Acrp30 are associated with the significantly increase of HMW representing the most biologically active forms. The important role of Acrp30 in pathophysiological conditions of lung is supported also by the modulation of AdipoRs with the down regulation of AdipoR2. The low expression of AdipoR2 could suggest a specific role of this receptor, mainly implicated in Acrp30 effects on inflammation and oxidative stress. Thus, total Acrp30, HMW and its receptors could be considered critical targets to improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for lung diseases.