Secretion from adipose tissue of adipokines or adipocytokines, comprising of bioactive
peptides or proteins, immune molecules and inflammatory mediators, exert critical roles in
inflammatory arthritis and obesity. This review considers the evidence generated over the last
decade regarding the effects of several adipokines including leptin, adiponectin, visfatin, resistin,
chemerin and apelin, in cartilage and bone homeostasis in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis
and osteoarthritis, which has important implications for obesity.
