Adipokines as novel biomarkers of cardio-metabolic disorders

Obesity, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m², has been verified to be associated with several health problems which are always grouped as metabolic syndrome. However, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms remain unclear. The hallmarks of obesity are dysfunctional changes in adipose tissue and dyslipidemia characterized by elevated serum levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), and reduced serum levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Currently, it is widely accepted that rather than being a reservoir for energy storage, the adipose tissue could also secrete multiple hormones and molecules, named adipokines. Notably, growing evidence has put forward that under obese status, the adipocytes are dysfunctional with excessive secretion of multiple pro-inflammatory adipokines, contributing to a chronic inflammatory reaction and promote the progression of metabolic and cardiovascular complications. Although some adipokines have been shown to be causally linked to various disease processes, the functions of other novel adipokines in modulating diseases are still not elucidated. In this review, we focus on the microenvironment of adipose tissue and how it influences obesity and cardiovascular disorders. We also summarize the role of adipokines in modulating systemic inflammatory responses that contribute to cardio-metabolic disorders.