[Adipose tissue: a multifunctional organ]

There is general agreement that central, as opposed to peripheral, adipose tissue confers the most cardiometabolic risk. Although the basis of this differential risk has not been established, the pattern of gene expression and secretory products in visceral fat would be predicted to be more atherogenic compared with that in subcutaneous peripheral fat. Adipose tissue is, in fact, now recognized not simply a store of excess energy but a major endocrine and secretory organ, releasing a wide range of protein factors and signals, termed adipokines, in addition to fatty acids and other lipid moieties. These factors are derived from adipocyte or non-adipocyte fractions, and include proteins, metabolites and hormones. This paper reviews some of the advances in the understanding of biologically active molecules produced by adipose tissue and how dysregulated production of these factors could be implicated in the association between central adiposity, cardiovascular pathology and comorbidities, including metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and systemic inflammation.