Adipocyte generated endocrine signals, including leptin and adiponectin, control systemic
insulin sensitivity as part of a broader control mechanism in energy balance. Leptin and
adiponectin are inversely regulated in vivo, but not in vitro, suggesting that the inverse
relationship is mediated via indirect mechanisms. The cytokine TNF-α has been proposed
as a putative candidate in the reciprocal regulation of adiponectin and leptin. However,
several recent findings, including the observation that adiponectin production is …