title: Microvascular responsiveness in obesity: implications for therapeutic intervention.
abstract: Obesity has detrimental effects on the microcirculation. Functional changes in microvascular responsiveness may increase the risk of developing cardiovascular complications in obese patients. Emerging evidence indicates that selective therapeutic targeting of the microvessels may prevent life-threatening obesity-related vascular complications, such as ischaemic heart disease, heart failure and hypertension. It is also plausible that alterations in adipose tissue microcirculation contribute to the development of obesity. Therefore, targeting adipose tissue arterioles could represent a novel approach to reducing obesity. This review aims to examine recent studies that have been focused on vasomotor dysfunction of resistance arteries in obese humans and animal models of obesity. Particularly, findings in coronary resistance arteries are contrasted to those obtained in other vascular beds. We provide examples of therapeutic attempts, such as use of statins, ACE inhibitors and insulin sensitizers to prevent obesity-related microvascular complications. We further identify some of the important challenges and opportunities going forward.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This article is part of a themed section on Fat and Vascular Responsiveness. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2012.165.issue-3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, UK Department of Physiology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA. zsolt.bagi@pharm.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bagi
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feher
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cassuto
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species