Adiponectin elevates activin A and reduces follistatin via the adiponectin receptor 2 in primary human hepatocytes

Aims: Adiponectin is believed to exert hepatoprotective effects and therefore it was analysed whether this adipokine may alter activin A or its natural inhibitor follistatin, both important in liver regeneration. Methods: Primary human hepatocytes were incubated with 10µg/ml recombinant adiponectin for 24h. Activin A and follistatin were measured in the supernatants by ELISA. Patients were examined with high-end ultrasound equipment and were subdivided into three groups: no steatosis: no difference in renal and hepatic echo-pattern (29 patients), low grade steatosis: slightly increased hepatic echogenicity (19 p…