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Adipokines: Deciphering the cardiovascular signature of adipose tissue
Joseph C Galley1, Shubhnita Singh1, Wanessa M C Awata1
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for Pediatrics Research in Obesity and Metabolism (CPROM), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Insights
Adipocytes, key cells in adipose tissue, produce adipokines that influence blood pressure and cardiovascular health. Dysfunctional adipokines linked to obesity can negatively impact cardiovascular outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Disease Research
Background:
- Obesity and hypertension are complex conditions with interconnected cellular mechanisms.
- Adipose tissue, primarily adipocytes, functions as a dynamic endocrine organ.
- Adipocytes secrete signaling molecules known as adipokines, impacting physiological functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of adipocytes and their secreted adipokines.
- To examine the impact of adipokines on blood pressure regulation.
- To explore adipokine influence on cardiovascular homeostasis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on adipocytes, adipokines, and cardiovascular health.
- Analysis of signaling pathways involving adipokines and their cellular targets.
- Synthesis of current understanding of adipokine roles in hypertension and obesity.
Main Results:
- Specific adipokines (e.g., adiponectin, omentin, FGF21) exhibit cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory effects.
- Other adipokines (e.g., visfatin, chemerin, resistin, leptin) are altered in obesity, correlating with negative cardiovascular outcomes.
- Adipocyte-derived factors significantly influence vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and immune cells.
Conclusions:
- Adipocytes and their adipokines are critical regulators of blood pressure and cardiovascular homeostasis.
- Altered adipokine profiles in obesity contribute to cardiovascular pathologies.
- Targeting adipokines presents a potential therapeutic strategy for obesity-related cardiovascular dysfunction.
Abstract:
Obesity and hypertension are intimately linked due to the various ways that the important cell types such as vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), endothelial cells (EC), immune cells, and adipocytes, communicate with one another to contribute to these two pathologies. Adipose tissue is a very dynamic organ comprised primarily of adipocytes, which are well known for their role in energy storage. More recently adipose tissue has been recognized as the largest endocrine organ because of its ability to produce a vast number of signaling molecules called adipokines. These signaling molecules stimulate specific types of cells or tissues with many adipokines acting as indicators of adipocyte healthy function, such as adiponectin, omentin, and FGF21, which show anti-inflammatory or cardioprotective effects, acting as regulators of healthy physiological function. Others, like visfatin, chemerin, resistin, and leptin are often altered during pathophysiological circumstances like obesity and lipodystrophy, demonstrating negative cardiovascular outcomes when produced in excess. This review aims to explore the role of adipocytes and their derived products as well as the impacts of these adipokines on blood pressure regulation and cardiovascular homeostasis.
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