Adipose tissue as an endocrine organ: role of leptin and adiponectin in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Obesity, the most common nutritional disorder in industrial countries, is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Nevertheless, the molecular basis linking obesity with cardiovascular disturbances have not yet been fully clarified. Recent advances in the biology of adipose tissue indicate that it is not simply an energy storage organ, but also a secretory organ, producing a variety of bioactive substances, including leptin and adiponectin, that may influence the function as well as the structural integrity of the cardiovascular system. Leptin, besides being a satiety signal for the central nervous system and to be related to insulin and glucose metabolism, may also play an important role in regulating vascular tone because of the widespread distribution of functional receptors in the vascular cells. On the other hand, the more recently discovered protein, adiponectin, seems to play a protective role in experimental models of vascular injury, in probable relation to its ability to suppress the attachment of monocytes to endothelial cells, which is an early event in the atherosclerotic process. There is already considerable evidence linking altered production of some adipocyte hormones with the cardiovascular complications of obesity. Therefore, the knowledge of alterations in the endocrine function of adipose tissue may help to further understand the high cardiovascular risk associated with obesity.

Body fat reference curves for children

“…The chief merit of the new curves is that they assess adipose tissue mass, the component of excess weight that is associated with comorbidities. 8 They will also reduce misclassification in large-framed and/or muscular children who are rated as overweight or obese by body mass index. Additionally the new curves will help focus medical attention on excess adiposity as distinct from overweight.…”

“…7 Principally, it does not distinguish between increased mass in the form of fat, lean tissue or bone, and hence can lead to significant misclassification. Since the pathology associated with obesity is driven by the excess fat mass 8 the ideal monitoring tool should directly assess adiposity. Many tools are available to do this but are complex, time consuming and expensive.…”

Leptin and TNF-alpha promoter methylation levels measured by MSP could predict the response to a low-calorie diet

“…In this context, leptin is an adipokine overexpressed in obese subjects that regulates appetite, energy balance and metabolism [3,14]. Previous studies by bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP, a time-consuming technique) showed that leptin promoter methylation in rat adipocytes was modified by a high fat diet [31].…”

Association of increased Visfatin/PBEF/NAMPT circulating concentrations and gene expression levels in peripheral blood cells with lipid metabolism and fatty liver in human morbid obesity

“…Adipose tissue contributes to regulating whole-body metabolism as well as inflammatory and immune responses through the direct effects of adipokines [4][5][6].…”