Alteration of adiponectin before the onset of hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia may be explained by the fact that, in spite of elevated expression of mRNA for adiponectin, it has been observed that there is a decrease in receptor expression and also deactivation of the PPAR-α/AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase and peroxisome-activated receptor-α) pathway. The gene discussed is ADIPOQ; the disease is metabolic syndrome.