Adipokines, Vascular Wall, and Cardiovascular Disease: A Focused Overview of the Role of Adipokines in the Pathophysiology of Cardiovascular Disease. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maresca, Fabio; Palma, Vito Di; Bevilacqua, Michele; Uccello, Giuseppe; Taglialatela, Vittorio; Giaquinto, Alessandro; Esposito, Giovanni; Trimarco, Bruno; Cirillo, Plinio
• Is Part Of: Angiology. Volume 66:Number 1(2015)
• Page Start: 8
• Page End: 24
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: acute coronary syndrome -- adipokines -- atherosclerosis -- cardiovascular disease -- inflammation -- obesity -- vascular wall; Blood-vessels -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Cardiovascular system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.13005
• DOI: 10.1177/0003319713520463
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-3197

Abstract

Epidemiological evidence has shown that abdominal obesity is closely associated with the development of cardiovascular (CV) disease, suggesting that it might be considered as an independent CV risk factor. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the association between these 2 clinical entities remain largely unknown. Adipocytes are considered able to produce and secrete chemical mediators known as "adipokines" that may exert several biological actions, including those on heart and vessels. Of interest, a different adipokine profile can be observed in the plasma of patients with obesity or metabolic syndrome compared with healthy controls. We consider the main adipokines, focusing on their effects on the vascular wall and analyzing their role in CV pathophysiology.