title: Mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction in obesity-associated hypertension.
abstract: Obesity is strongly associated with high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes. These conditions synergistically increase the risk of cardiovascular events. A number of central and peripheral abnormalities can explain the development or maintenance of high blood pressure in obesity. Of great interest is endothelial dysfunction, considered to be a primary risk factor in the development of hypertension. Additional mechanisms also related to endothelial dysfunction have been proposed to mediate the development of hypertension in obese individuals. These include: increase in both peripheral vasoconstriction and renal tubular sodium reabsorption, increased sympathetic activity and overactivation of both the renin-angiotensin system and the endocannabinoid system and insulin resistance. The discovery of new mechanisms regulating metabolic and vascular function and a better understanding of how vascular function can be influenced by these systems would facilitate the development of new therapies for treatment of obesity-associated hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Lobato
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Filgueira
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Akamine
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Tostes
authors.forename: M H C
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Z B
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Fortes
mesh_terms: D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology