Adipokine

The adipokines or adipocytokines are a group of cytokines (cell-to-cell signalling proteins) secreted by adipose tissue.

Members include:
 * adiponectin
 * chemerin
 * interleukin-6 (IL-6)
 * leptin (Ob ligand)
 * plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)
 * resistin
 * retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4)
 * tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα)
 * visfatin

Their relative roles in modifying appetite, insulin resistance and atherosclerosis are the subjects of intense research, as they may be modifyable causes of morbidity in people with obesity.