Table 3.

Protective action of adiponectin in chronic hepatitis against fibrosis, inflammation and steatosis.

Fibrosis	Inflammation	Steatosis
Decrease of TGFβ synthesis Suppression of connective tissue growth factor expression Inhibition of α-smooth muscle actin expression Suppression of platelet-derived growth factor–mediated HSCs’ proliferation and migration Stimulation of HSCs’ apoptosis	Inhibition of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 production Induction of IL-10 synthesis in Kupffer cells Promotion of apoptosis debris clearance	Stimulation of FFA oxidation and decrease of FFA synthesis Activation of PPARα Downregulation of SREBP-1c synthesis Inhibition of de novo lipogenesis
Inhibition of Kupffer cells
Decrease of TNFα synthesis
Suppression of NF-κB activity
Suppression of hepatocyte death
Improvement of insulin sensitivity Inhibition of oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species production Activation of AMPK

FFA, free fatty acid.