[Obesity, inflammation and insulin resistance: which role for adipokines]

Adipose tissue is now recognized as an endocrine organ involved in regulating physiologic and pathologic processes including inflammation. It synthesizes and secretes hormones such as leptin and adiponectin. It can secrete other products namely adipokines including cytokines and chemokines. The release of adipokines by either adipocytes or adipose tissue-infiltrated macrophages leads to a chronic sub-inflammatory state that likely plays a major role in cardiovascular complications linked to obesity and insulin resistance.