Alveolar macrophage activation and an emphysema-like phenotype in adiponectin-deficient mice

摘要

In this study, we set out to further investigate the functional role of adiponectin in the lung using mice that are adiponectin deficient by target gene disruption. Our findings show that adiponectin is present at high concentrations in bronchoalveo-lar lavage (BAL) fluid of wild-type mice and that complete or partial deficiency leads to structure changes in the lung characteristic of an emphysema-like phenotype. Proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are increased in the lung of adiponectin-/- mice, and in vitro studies demonstrate that adiponectin acts to suppress alveolar macrophage activation and the release of MMPs. Together, our findings indicate that adiponectin plays an important role in lung immune cell homeostasis and suggest that adiponectin-deficient states may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory lung conditions.