Adipose Tissue-Derived Adipokines in Vascular Physiology and Pathophysiology: Insights and Implications

Adipose tissue serves not only as a storage organ but also plays an active role in maintaining the body's homeostasis as an endocrine component. Mainly made up of adipocytes that store energy as triglyceride droplets, this tissue also contains fibroblasts, immune cells, neuronal cells, and endothelial cells. Collectively, these non-adipocyte cells are known as the stromal vascular fraction. Evidence suggests that both the quantity and quality of adipose tissue are crucial in regulating vascular physiology by influencing lipid metabolism and secreting important signaling molecules called adipokines. This review aims to systematically explore the complex effects of adipose tissue on vascular regulation with a particular focus on two well-characterized adipokines-leptin and adiponectin-whose receptors are abundantly expressed in the vasculature. We further aim to provide an overview of both classical and recent research to emphasize the significance of the interplay between adipose tissue and vascular biology.