VEGF, the underlying factor for metabolic syndrome; fact or fiction?

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is currently diagnosed by the co-presence of at least three of the five following abnormalities: abdominal obesity, dysglycaemia, elevated serum triglycerides, low high-density cholesterol (HDL) and finally elevated blood pressure. Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This review is on the associations between MetS and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF induces migration and proliferation of endothelial cells (ECs), increases vascular permeability and has a role in tumor growth, adipose tissue expansion, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Circulating levels of VEGFs are elevated in obese individuals and it has also been suggested that VEGF is secreted from adipose tissues, especially from intra-abdominal adipose tissue. There is abundant evidence to support that poor glycemic control in diabetic patients is associated with increased plasma VEGF, which in turn may cause hypertension and several vascular complications in diabetic patients. Circulating VEGF levels are increased in children and young adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus and middle-aged diabetic patients with proliferative retinopathy. It has been revealed that plasma VEGF increases in patients with hyperlipidemia and may trigger the development of atherosclerosis. It can be concluded that there is a positive association between VEGF and components of MetS. Because of the importance of this relationship, more investigations are needed in this field.