Visfatin and cardio-cerebro-vascular disease.
Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase is the rate-limiting enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide from nicotinamide. This protein was originally cloned as a putative pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor and also found to be a visceral fat-derived adipokine (visfatin). As a multifunctional protein, visfatin plays an important role in immunity, metabolism, aging, inflammation, and responses to stress. Visfatin also participates in several pathophysiological processes contributing to cardio-cerebro-vascular diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, and ischemic stroke. However, whether visfatin is a friend or a foe in these diseases remains uncertain. This brief review focuses on the current understanding of the complex role of visfatin in the cardio-cerebro-vascular system under normal and pathophysiological conditions.
Department of Pharmacology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Pei
P
Wang
Paul M
PM
Vanhoutte
Chao-Yu
CY
Miao
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase