Visceral and subcutaneous adiposity: are both potential therapeutic targets for tackling the metabolic syndrome?
The metabolic syndrome represents a constellation of co-morbidities that include central adiposity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension, which results from an elevated prevalence of obesity. An increased abdominal adiposity is observed in upper-body obesity with preferential accumulation of fat in the visceral depot, which renders these individuals more prone to metabolic and cardiovascular problems. The pathophysiology of the metabolic syndrome seems to be closely associated to an elevated efflux of free fatty acids from the visceral fat compartment and a dysregulation of the expression of adipose tissue-derived factors (also termed "adipokines"). Weight reduction and increased physical activity represent the main approach to tackle the "diabesity" epidemic. Nonetheless, taking advantage of the different biochemical and molecular characteristics of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue may open up novel pharmacological strategies to combat the metabolic and cardiovascular derangements accompanying the metabolic syndrome.
Rodríguez
Amaia
A
Metabolic Research Laboratory, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Catalán
Victoria
V
Gómez-Ambrosi
Javier
J
Frühbeck
Gema
G
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000502:physiology; D050154:Adiposity / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000502:physiology; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000187:drug effects*; D020738:Leptin / Q000502:physiology; D008066:Lipolysis; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000187:drug effects*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology
D052242:Adiponectin; D016207:Cytokines; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; C101326:RBP4 protein, human; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; C085455:nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, human