文摘
Adipose tissue can be considered as a huge gland producing paracrine and endocrine hormones, the adipo(cyto)kines. There is growing evidence that these adipo(cyto)kines may link obesity to cardiovascular diseases. The excessive adipocyte hypertrophy in obesity induces hypoxia in adipose tissue. This leads to adiposopathy, the process that converts 鈥渉ealthy鈥?adipose tissue to 鈥渟ick鈥?adipose tissue. This is accompanied by a change in profile of adipo(cyto)kines released, with less production of the 鈥渉ealthy鈥?adipo(cyto)kines such as adiponectin and omentin and more release of the 鈥渦nhealthy鈥?adipo(cyto)kines, ultimately leading to the development of cardiovascular diseases. The present review provides a concise and general overview of the actual concepts of the role of adipo(cyto)kines in endothelial dysfunction, hypertension, atherosclerosis and heart diseases. The knowledge of these concepts may lead to new tools to improve health in the next generations.