Adiponectin, also termed Acrp30, AdipoQ, apM1, or GBP28 , was originally identified independently by four groups using different approaches. The Adiponectin gene encodes a secreted protein expressed exclusively in both WAT and brown adipose tissue. Adiponectin has a carboxyl-terminal globular domain and an amino-terminal collagen domain and is structurally similar to complement 1q, which belongs to a family of proteins that form characteristic multimers.the receptors AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 were discovered and cloned, which was the starting point of fundamental understanding of adiponectin actions. In fact, pivotal roles of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 in pleiotropic adiponectin actions have been demonstrated. Postreceptor signaling mechanisms downstream of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 have also been progressively elucidated,albeit not completely. Adiponectin signaling has thus become one of the major research fields in metabolism and clinical medicine.

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