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Assessment of Vascular Tone Responsiveness using Isolated Mesenteric Arteries with a Focus on Modulation by Perivascular Adipose Tissues
Published on: June 3, 2019
Chemerin connects fat to arterial contraction
Stephanie W Watts1, Anne M Dorrance, Mark E Penfold
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1317, USA. wattss@msu.edu
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
|April 6, 2013
Summary
Chemerin, a peptide found in perivascular adipose tissue, acts as a vasoconstrictor. This discovery reveals a novel role for chemerin in regulating blood vessel contraction, particularly in obesity and hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Vascular biology
- Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular research
Background:
- Obesity and hypertension frequently coexist, but the underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear.
- Chemerin is a peptide implicated in linking perivascular adipose tissue to arterial contraction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of chemerin in perivascular adipose tissue.
- To determine if chemerin is vasoactive and contributes to a chemerin axis in the vasculature.
Main Methods:
- Real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analyses were used to detect chemerin and its receptor, ChemR23.
- Vasoactivity assays were performed on isolated rat arteries.
- Experiments involved nitric oxide synthase inhibition, endothelial cell removal, and mechanical loading.
- A ChemR23 antagonist (CCX832) was used to assess the role of endogenous chemerin.
- Arteries from obese/hypertensive animals and obese humans were studied.
Main Results:
- Chemerin and ChemR23 were expressed in perivascular adipose tissue and vascular layers.
- Chemerin-9 induced concentration-dependent contractions in rat arteries, amplified by endothelial dysfunction.
- Endogenous chemerin contributed to arterial contraction, as shown by antagonist studies.
- Mesenteric arteries from obese humans exhibited enhanced contraction to chemerin-9.
Conclusions:
- Chemerin functions as an endogenous vasoconstrictor in the vasculature.
- This vasoconstrictor activity is mediated via the ChemR23 receptor.
- Chemerin represents a novel therapeutic target for conditions involving vascular dysfunction, such as obesity and hypertension.
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