Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Medical Sciences, cilt.26, sa.4, ss.409-420, 2006 (SCI-Expanded)
It is now recognized that the white adipose tissue produces a variety of bioactive peptides, collectively termed adipocytokines. Alteration of white adipose tissue mass in obesity or lipoatrophy, affects the production of most of these adipose tissue derived factors. Since both conditions are associated with multiple metabolic disorders and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, the idea has emerged that white adipose tissue may be involved in the development of these complications, by virtue of its secreted factors. Several adipokines are increased in the obese state and have been implicated in hypertension (angiotensinogen), impaired fibrinolysis (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) and insulin resistance (acylation-stimulating protein, TNF, IL-6, resistin). Conversely, leptin and adiponectin both exert an insulin-sensitizing effect. In obesity, insulin resistance has been linked to leptin resistance and decreased plasma adiponectin. In the recent future, development of new drugs targeting adipokines might represent a promising therapeutic approach to protect obese patients from insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. Copyright © 2006 by Türkiye Klinikleri.