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Adipose tissue as an endocrine organ: role of leptin and adiponectin in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases

El tejido adiposo como órgano endocrino: papel de la leptina y adiponectina en la patogénesis cardiovascular (minirrevisión)

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Abstract

Obesity, the most common nutritional disorder in industrial countries, is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Nevertheless, the molecular basis linking obesity with cardiovascular disturbances have not yet been fully clarified. Recent advances in the biology of adipose tissue indicate that it is not simply an energy storage organ, but also a secretory organ, producing a variety of bioactive substances, including leptin and adiponectin, that may influence the function as well as the structural integrity of the cardiovascular system. Leptin, besides being a satiety signal for the central nervous system and to be related to insulin and glucose metabolism, may also play an important role in regulating vascular tone because of the widespread distribution of functional receptors in the vascular cells. On the other hand, the more recently discovered protein, adiponectin, seems to play a protective role in experimental models of vascular injury, in probable relation to its ability to suppress the attachment of monocytes to endothelial cells, which is an early event in the atherosclerotic process. There is already considerable evidence linking altered production of some adipocyte hormones with the cardiovascular complications of obesity. Therefore, the knowledge of alterations in the endocrine function of adipose tissue may help to further understand the high cardiovascular risk associated with obesity.

Resumen

La obesidad es la más común de las enfermedades nutricionales de los países industrializados y está asociada con un aumento de la mortalidad y morbilidad cardiovascular. Sin embargo, las bases moleculares de esta asociación aún no se han clarificado. Recientes avances en la biología del tejido adiposo han permitido demostrar que además de almacenar energía, es también un órgano de secreción capaz de producir una amplia variedad de sustancias bioactivas entre las que se incluyen la leptina y la adiponectina. Ambas hormonas pueden influir tanto en la función como en la integridad estructural del sistema cardiovascular. La leptina, además de ser una señal de saciedad para el sistema nervioso central y estar relacionada con el metabolismo de la glucosa y de la insulina, desempeña también un papel en la regulación del tono vascular, como consecuencia de la amplia distribución de sus receptores funcionales en las células vasculares. Por otra parte, la adiponectina, proteína descrita más recientemente, parece jugar un papel protector en los modelos experimentales de daño vascular, en parte, porque es capaz de suprimir la unión de los monocitos a las células endoteliales, que es un paso fundamental en el proceso aterosclerótico. Existen suficientes evidencias que relacionan alteraciones de la producción de hormonas adipocitarias con las complicaciones cardiovasculares de la obesidad. En consecuencia, el avance en el conocimiento de las alteraciones en la función endocrina del tejido adiposo podría ayudar a entender el riesgo cardiovascular asociado a la obesidad.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Centre for Applied Medical Research, 31008, Pamplona

    A. Fortuño & J. Díez

  2. Metabolic Research Laboratory, School of Medicine, University Clinic, Pamplona, Spain

    A. Rodríguez, J. Gómez-Ambrosi & G. Frühbeck

  3. Department of Endocrinology, University Clinic, Pamplona, Spain

    G. Frühbeck

  4. Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Clinic, Pamplona, Spain

    J. Díez

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  1. A. Fortuño
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Fortuño, A., Rodríguez, A., Gómez-Ambrosi, J. et al. Adipose tissue as an endocrine organ: role of leptin and adiponectin in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. J. Physiol. Biochem. 59, 51–60 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179868

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