Low-molecular-weight adiponectin is more closely associated with episodes of asthma than high-molecular-weight adiponectin.

Adiponectin is divided into high-molecular-weight (HMW), middle-molecular-weight (MMW) and low-molecular-weight (LMW) types. While HMW adiponectin has been studied by many researchers, the roles of MMW and LMW adiponectin have not yet been sufficiently elucidated. In addition, there are conflicting findings regarding the role of adiponectin in chronic inflammatory diseases, especially asthma. Therefore, we compared patients who suffered episodes of asthma in the past (=asthmatics) with those who did not (=non-asthmatics) in order to investigate the relationship between asthma and HMW, MMW and LMW adiponectin. The subjects in this study included 76 university students. None of the subjects were smokers, on regular medications or seeing a doctor regularly at the time. Fourteen subjects reported past histories of asthma. We also measured and compared the levels of leptin and ghrelin to that of adiponectin, as these hormones are connected with inflammatory conditions. Although the physical data of the asthmatics were similar to those of the non-asthmatics, the levels of ghrelin and all fractions of adiponectin tended to be lower in the asthmatics than in the non-asthmatics. While the levels of MMW and LMW adiponectin in the asthmatics were found to be significantly low, the levels of ghrelin and HMW adiponectin were not clear. According to a multivariate regression analysis of the MMW and LMW adiponectin levels, asthma was found to be more significantly associated with the LMW adiponectin level than age, waist circumference or HDL-C. The results suggest that LMW adiponectin may be associated with episodes of asthma in males.