Adiponectin (ADIPOQ) is an important adipokine involved in the control of fat metabolism and insulin sensitivity, with direct anti-diabetic, anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory activities. This protein serves to stimulate AMPK phosphorylation and activation in the liver and in skeletal muscle, which enhances glucose utilization and fatty-acid combustion. It may play a role in cell growth, angiogenesis and tissue remodeling by binding and sequestering various growth factors with distinct binding affinities depending on the type of complex (LMW, MMW or HMW). Mutations in this gene are associated with intracranial atherosclerosis, a major cause of stroke. Additionally, knockout studies in rats have shown that adiponectin may be involved in regulating sensitivity to psychomotor stimulants and susceptibility to drug effects in addiction. In immunohistochemistry, adiponectin stains the cytoplasm and plasma of a number of tissues, including adipose and soft tissue, muscle, the gastrointestinal tract, the kidney, breast, and female reproductive tissues. References: Int J Neurosci. 2017 May;127(5):427-432, PMID: 27224208, Genes Brain Behav. 2017 Sep;16(7):686-698, PMID: 28387990