title: Obesity-related metabolic syndrome: mechanisms of sympathetic overactivity.
abstract: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome has increased worldwide over the past few years. Sympathetic nervous system overactivity is a key mechanism leading to hypertension in patients with the metabolic syndrome. Sympathetic activation can be triggered by reflex mechanisms as arterial baroreceptor impairment, by metabolic factors as insulin resistance, and by dysregulated adipokine production and secretion from visceral fat with a mainly permissive role of leptin and antagonist role of adiponectin. Chronic sympathetic nervous system overactivity contributes to a further decline of insulin sensitivity and creates a vicious circle that may contribute to the development of hypertension and of the metabolic syndrome and favor cardiovascular and kidney disease. Selective renal denervation is an emerging area of interest in the clinical management of obesity-related hypertension. This review focuses on current understanding of some mechanisms through which sympathetic overactivity may be interlaced to the metabolic syndrome, with particular regard to the role of insulin resistance and of some adipokines.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hypertension and Nephrology, Department of System Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Paola
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Canale
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manca di Villahermosa
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rovella
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noce
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Lorenzo
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Di Daniele