Role of adipocytokines on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in visceral obesity

Obesity which is defined as accumulation of excess body fat, is a major cau se of atherosclerotic vascular disease in industrial countries. Recent adva nces in the biology of adipose tissue have revealed that adipose tissue is not simply an energy storage organ but it also secretes a variety of molecu les which affect the metabolism of the whole body. Through a systematic sea rch of active genes in adipose tissue, we found that adipose tissue, especi ally visceral fat expressed numerous genes for secretory proteins (about 30 % of total genes analyzed). Among them, plasminogen activator-1 (PAI-1), wh ich is a regulator of the fibrinolytic system, was overexpressed in the vis ceral fat in an animal model of obesity. Plasma levels of PAI-1 were closel y correlated with visceral fat adiposity. Thus, PAI-1 secreted from viscera l fat may play some role in thrombotic vascular disease in visceral obesity . Adiponectin, a novel adipose-specific gene product, which has a matrix-li ke structure, is abundantly present in the bloodstream. Dysregulated secret ion of adiponectin may be related to vascular disease in obesity. Biologica lly active molecules secreted from adipose tissue (adipocytokines) may have important roles in the development of atherosclerotic disease in obesity.