Adipokines and adipocyte targets in the future management of obesity and the metabolic syndrome.

The role of adipocytes has been recently better understood. Several adipocytokines have been identified, including leptin, a main regulator of appetite and energy expenditure, adiponectin and others, as novel insulin-sensitizers/insulin-mimetics, and some others inducing insulin resistance. Adipocytokines thus represent interesting novel drug targets in the future management of obesity.