Cardiovascular disease risk increases with age regardless of sex. Some of this risk is attributable to changes in natural hormones throughout the lifespan. The quintessential example of this being the dramatic increase in cardiovascular disease following the transition to menopause. Plasma levels of adiponectin, a "cardioprotective" adipokine released primarily by adipose tissue and regulated by hormones, also fluctuates throughout one's life. Plasma adiponectin levels increase with age in both men and women, with higher levels in both pre- and post- menopausal women compared to men. Younger cohorts seem to confer cardioprotective benefits from increased adiponectin levels yet elevated levels in the elderly and those with existing heart disease are associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes. Here, we review the most recent data regarding adiponectin signaling in the vasculature, highlight the differences observed between the sexes, and shed light on the apparent paradox regarding increased cardiovascular disease risk despite rising plasma adiponectin levels over time.

中文翻译：

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血管内皮脂联素信号在整个生命周期

无论性别如何，心血管疾病风险都随着年龄的增长而增加。其中一些风险可归因于整个生命周期中天然激素的变化。这方面的典型例子是过渡到更年期后心血管疾病的急剧增加。脂联素（一种主要由脂肪组织释放并受激素调节的“心脏保护性”脂肪因子）的血浆水平也在人的一生中波动。男性和女性的血浆脂联素水平随着年龄的增长而增加，与男性相比，绝经前和绝经后女性的水平更高。较年轻的队列似乎通过增加脂联素水平赋予心脏保护益处，但老年人和现有心脏病患者的水平升高与较差的心血管结局相关。这里，