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Adiponectin, an adipocyte-specific secretory protein, is present in serum as three oligomeric complexes. Apart from its roles as an anti-diabetic and anti-atherogenic hormone, adiponectin has been implicated as an important regulator of cell growth and tissue remodeling. Here we show that some of these functions might be mediated by the specific interactions of adiponectin with several important growth factors. Among six different growth factors examined, adiponectin was found to bind with platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB), basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB EGF) with distinct affinities. The bindings of adiponectin with these growth factors are oligomerization-dependent. PDGF-BB bound to the high molecular weight (HMW) and middle molecular weight (MMW) complexes, but not to the low molecular weight (LMW) complex of …