The contribution of the CTRP family and its receptors to fibrotic diseases

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Adiponectin and other 15 members of the complement C1q/tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related protein (CTRP) are proteins secreted primarily from adipose tissue; furthermore, recent studies have revealed their expression in various other tissues. Beyond their roles as adipokines, CTRPs critically regulate fibrogenic responses in renal and cardiovascular tissues. Adiponectin exerts its biological functions via AdipoR1, AdipoR2, and Cadherin-13 (known as T-cadherin), while several CTRPs share AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 as functional receptors. This review summarizes the current understanding of the protective effects of the CTRP family in fibrotic diseases. Future studies utilizing gain-of-function and loss-of-function animal models with single or double genetic mutations will elucidate the detailed molecular mechanisms, including the identification of functional receptors, involved in CTRP-mediated regulation of fibrotic diseases.