Linking adiponectin to proteinuria
J. Clin. Invest. Rexford S. Ahima, et al. 118:1619 doi:10.1172/JCI35655 [Go to this article.]

Figure 2
Schematic illustration of the effects of adiponectin on podocytes. (A) In lean individuals, high levels of adiponectin phosphorylate and activate AMPK, presumably via AdipoR1, which prevents oxidative stress and the fusion of podocyte foot processes as well as limits albumin excretion. (B) As Sharma et al. demonstrate in this issue of the JCI (7), total adiponectin deficiency in Ad^–/– mice or partial deficiency in obesity diminishes AMPK activity, increases oxidative stress, promotes the fusion of podocyte foot processes, and leads to higher urinary albumin excretion.