Molecular mechanisms for vascular injury in the metabolic syndrome.
The metabolic syndrome is strongly associated with insulin resistance and has been recognized as a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as visceral obesity, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. Recently, insulin resistance in the absence of overt diabetes or the metabolic syndrome itself has been shown to be associated with endothelial dysfunction, one of the initial steps in the process of atherosclerosis. In the present article we review the molecular mechanisms by which the metabolic syndrome causes endothelial dysfunction and subsequently promotes atherosclerosis. We also discuss promising therapeutic strategies that specifically target the mechanisms responsible for vascular alterations in the metabolic syndrome.
Yamagishi
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine III, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan. shoichi@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
Nakamura
K
K
Jinnouchi
Y
Y
Takenaka
K
K
Imaizumi
T
T
D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D020738:Leptin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha