Perivascular Adipose Tissue Modulation of Vascular Function
Summary
Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) comprises fat depots that directly envelop most systemic blood vessels. Far from being inert insulation, PVAT functions as a dynamic paracrine and endocrine organ governing vascular tone, inflammatory status and structural integrity. Under healthy conditions, PVAT secretes an array of vasodilator and anti-inflammatory mediators—among them nitric oxide, adiponectin and specific lipid-derived factors—that collectively exert an anticontractile effect on the underlying smooth muscle and support endothelial homeostasis. In obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, PVAT undergoes profound remodelling: adipocyte signalling shifts towards pro-inflammatory adipokines, reactive oxygen species accumulate and local nitric oxide bioavailability is diminished. These alterations foster endothelial dysfunction, heightened vascular contractility, extracellular matrix deposition and vascular remodelling, which in turn contribute to hypertension, atherosclerosis and related complications. Recent advances have highlighted the crucial roles of adipocyte nitric oxide synthase, immune-metabolic cell cross-talk and redox balance in PVAT, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target for modulating vessel function in cardiometabolic disorders.
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Perivascular Adipose Tissue Modulation of Vascular Function publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in perivascular adipose tissue modulation of vascular function across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Perivascular Adipose Tissue (PVAT): Fat depot surrounding blood vessels that modulates vascular tone and inflammation via paracrine signalling.
Adipokine: Bioactive molecule secreted by adipose tissue, influencing metabolic, inflammatory and vascular processes.
Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS3/eNOS): Enzyme producing nitric oxide in adipocytes and endothelium, crucial for vasodilation.
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS): Chemically reactive oxygen derivatives that serve as signalling molecules at low levels but cause oxidative damage when in excess.
Paracrine Signalling: Local cell-to-cell communication in which secreted factors affect neighbouring cells without entering the systemic circulation.
References
- Deletion of adipocyte NOS3 potentiates high-fat diet-induced hypertension and vascular remodelling via chemerin. Cardiovascular Research (2023).
- Single-cell view and a novel protective macrophage subset in perivascular adipose tissue in T2DM. Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters (2024).
- Perivascular Adipose Tissue Oxidative Stress in Obesity. Antioxidants (2023).
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