Adiposopathy as a key factor in the development of insulin resistance

Abstract

The metabolic cardiovascular syndrome (MS) is a common cluster of metabolic abnormalities (abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and carbohydrate metabolism disorders) that are related to insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia and are associated with accelerated atherogenesis. Insulin excess is known to promote the development of the whole metabolic cascade. Recently it has been shown that the inflammatory and hemostatic abnormalities, immunological disorders, endothelial dysfunction, hyperhomocysteinemia and hyperuricemia are also important features of MS. Despite the numerous studies of MS its underlying cause is still not established. The dysfunction of visceral adipocytes (adiposopathy) might be genetically determined, and is considered nowadays as the main factor contributing to the development of the MS. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is of particular interest for prevention and target therapy of all the components of MS.