Acceleratory Effect of Novel Synthesized Collagen-like Peptide from Adiponectin on Osteoblastic Differentiation

9 INTRODUCTION Adiponectin / Acrp30 (adipocyte complement-related protein of 30 kDa), an adipose-derived hormone, exhibits various biological functions, such as regulating energy homeostasis, increasing insulin sensitivity in the liver and skeletal muscle, and protecting vascular walls from atherosclerosis 1, . Furthermore, recent studies suggest that adiponectin also plays important roles in bone metabolism. Adiponectin might act on bone formation through the autocrine / paracrine and endocrine pathways, and the indirect pathway by circulating adiponectin via enhancement of the insulin signaling . It could also increase bone mass by suppressing osteoclast differentiation and activity . We previously demonstrated the gene expression of adipocytokine receptors in murine pro-osteoblastic cells during osteoblastic differentiation, and indicated that adiponectin rather than leptin may be involved in osteoblastic differentiation . Acceleratory Effect of Novel Synthesized Collagen-like Peptide from Adiponectin on Osteoblastic Differentiation