Definition

One of a large group of molecules that is made by fat cells in the body. Adipokines circulate in the blood and help control many important body functions, including appetite, fat storage, glucose and fat metabolism, blood pressure, inflammation, and immune response. Changes in the levels of adipokines in the blood may play a role in the development of obesity and other diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Adipokines can act as hormones, growth factors, and cytokines, and include the molecules leptin, adiponectin, resistin, and many others.