Association between adiponectin and lipids in Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Objectives: There is increasing evidence linking Parkinson's disease (PD) to lipids, such as the presence of lipids in the core of Lewy bodies in PD brains or high-molecular-weight adiponectin (APN) in phosphorylated α-synuclein positive Lewy bodies. This study aimed to verify whether APN levels are associated with neurodegenerative diseases. The association between APN and body weight was also investigated. Materials and methods: The following parameters were measured using venous blood sampling: HDL–C, LDL-C, glucose, and lipids, including APN. Results: PD patients receiving dopaminergic treatments had significant higher APN than that of de-novo PD, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) or multiple system atrophy- parkinsonian type (MSA-P). Multivariate analysis using ANCOVA revealed a significant difference in APN levels between treated PD patients and de-novo PD patients (adjusted mean difference of − 4.273μg/ml, p = 0.037]), or PSP patients (adjusted mean difference of − 4.756μg/ml, p = 0.034]). BMIs were mildly higher in de-novo PD patients compared to treated PD patients (adjusted mean difference of 1.686, p = 0.074]). After adjustment, APN levels were positively correlated with HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) in patients with PD (regression coefficient=0.479, P < 0.001), but not total cholesterol, or LDL-C. This correlation was not evident in patients with MSA-P, or PSP. Conclusions: APN likely plays a role in the composition of lipid rafts, particularly in patients with treated PD. The correlation between APN and HDL-C may be a marker that differentiates PD from MSA-P, or PSP.