Abstract: AIM: To investigate the relation between plasma adiponectin concentration and activator protein-1 (AP-1) in peripheral blood and coronary heart disease (CHD) and coronary arteriosclerosis changes in patients with CHD. METHODS: One hundred and forty-two patients were divided into CHD group and control group according to the outcome of coronary angiography (CAG). CHD group was further divided into stable angina pectoris (SAP) group and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) group according to clinical diagnosis. According to the type of coronary changes, CHD group was divided into type A, type B and type C groups and according to the degree of coronary lesion, CHD group was further divided into light stenosis group, moderate stenosis group and severe stenosis group. Phospho-c-Jun in lysate and plasma adiponectin concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Absorbance of Phospho-c-Jun in the CHD group was significantly higher than in control subjects (1.43±0.33 vs.0.71±0.13, P<0.01). Plasma adiponectin concentration in the CHD group was significantly lower than in control subjects ［(6.1±1.8)mg/L vs.(10.2±1.5)mg/L, P<0.01］. Absorbance of Phospho-c-Jun in ACS group was significantly higher than in the SAP group (1.56±0.28 vs.1.14±0.25, P<0.01). Plasma adiponectin concentration in the ACS group was significantly lower than in the SAP group ［(5.4±1.5)mg/L vs.(7.6±1.7)mg/L, P<0.01］. Absorbance of Phospho-c-Jun increased gradually from type A group to type C group and from light stenosis group to severe stenosis group. Plasma adiponectin concentration decreased gradually from type A group to type C group and from light stenosis group to severe stenosis group. CONCLUSION: Increase of Phospho-c-Jun (AP-1) and decrease of adiponectin are significantly related to CHD and coronary atherosclerosis changes.