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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
Semi-Automated Isolation of the Stromal Vascular Fraction from Murine White Adipose Tissue Using a Tissue Dissociator
Published on: May 19, 2023
Adipocyte-derived factors suppress heart contraction
C Look1, I Morano, M Ehrhart-Bornstein
1Clinical Medicine III, University of Technology, Dresden, Germany.
Insights
Adipose tissue releases factors that acutely impair heart function and reduce coronary flow. These findings suggest a direct role for adipose tissue in the development of cardiac dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Endocrinology
- Physiology
Background:
- Obesity is linked to cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, coronary artery disease, and heart failure.
- The exact pathophysiological mechanisms linking obesity and heart dysfunction remain unclear.
- Previous research indicated adipose tissue has a direct, acute depressant effect on cardiomyocytes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of adipocyte factors from subcutaneous adipose tissue on overall cardiac function.
- To measure changes in coronary flow, left ventricular pressure, and cardiac contraction/relaxation rates.
Main Methods:
- Utilized isolated perfused rat hearts in a Langendorff system.
- Incubated hearts with factors derived from adipocytes.
- Monitored hemodynamic parameters including coronary flow and ventricular pressure.
Main Results:
- Adipocyte factors caused a rapid decrease in heart contractility and coronary flow.
- The cardiodepressant effects were not inhibited by indomethacin (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor).
- Key cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) released by human adipocytes did not account for the observed cardiac depression.
Conclusions:
- Human adipocytes secrete factors that acutely reduce cardiac contractility and coronary flow.
- Coronary vessel contraction contributes to the observed effects.
- Adipose tissue plays a direct role in the pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction.
Background:
Obesity is strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases including systemic hypertension, coronary artery disease and heart failure. Despite several investigations the pathophysiological mechanisms involved remain unclear. We have previously shown that adipose tissue exerts a highly potent activity with an acute depressant effect on cardiomyocytes, thus suggesting direct involvement of adipose tissue in the development of heart dysfunction.
Objective And Design:
This study investigates the effects of adipocyte factors obtained from subcutaneous adipose tissue on the whole cardiac function by using isolated perfused rat hearts in a Langendorff mode. We recorded changes in coronary flow, developed isovolumetric left ventricular pressure, contraction rate and relaxation rate.
Results:
We observed a significant decrease in heart contractility parameters as well as in coronary flow within a few seconds of incubation with adipocyte factors. The cardiodepressant effects could not be blocked by the nonselective cyclooxygenase-inhibitor indomethacin. Human adipocytes release tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β into extracellular medium. These cytokines were tested for their potential effect but were, however, not responsible for the cardiodepressant effect observed.
Conclusion:
These data indicate that human adipocytes secrete factors with a strong acute depressant effect on cardiac force generation and coronary flow due to contraction of the coronary vessels, thus suggesting a direct role of adipose tissue in the pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction.
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