The C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein (CTRP) family, comprised of 15 members (CTRP1-CTRP15), is a newly discovered and highly conserved paralogue of adiponectin. Despite structural similarities between CTRP family and adiponectin, they exert pleiotropic effects on cell metabolism and have different regulation patterns.^– CTRP3 (also known as CORS-26, cartducin and cartonectin) is a member of this family. CTRP3 is a potent anti-inflammatory adipokine that inhibits proinflammatory pathways in monocytes and microcells, exerting anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and cardioprotective effect during development of coronary artery disease (CAD).^– Also, this adipokine has cardioprotective properties and is inversely associated with insulin resistance parameters; its circulating levels drop in obesity and hypertension.

One of the first studies to evaluate circulating CTRP-3 and progranulin levels in patients with CAD was conducted on 362 Korean adults with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), stable angina pectoris and control subjects with various cardiometabolic risk factors. CTRP-3 concentrations were significantly decreased in patients with ACS or stable angina compared to control subjects. Correlation analysis adjusted for age and gender showed that CTRP-3 levels had a significant negative relationship with glucose and high sensitive C-reactive protein levels, and a positive relationship with HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin levels. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio for CAD was 5.14 in the second tertile, and 9.04 in the first tertile of CTRP-3 levels compared to the third tertile, after adjusting for other cardiometabolic risk variables. These results suggest that CTRP-3 might be useful for assessing the risk of CAD.

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