Omentin: Linking Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Disease

Title:Omentin: Linking Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Disease

Volume: 12 Issue: 1

Author(s): Ji-Yin Zhou, Lawrence Chan and Shi-Wen Zhou

Affiliation:

Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, inflammation, metabolic syndrome, omentin.

Abstract: Omentin is an adipokine preferentially produced by visceral adipose tissue with insulin-sensitizing effects. Its expression is reduced in obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Omentin is also positively related with adiponectin, high-density lipoprotein levels and negatively related with body mass index, waist circumference, insulin resistance, triglyceride and leptin levels. Lower plasma omentin levels contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in obese or overweight patients. Omentin has anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, anti-cardiovascular disease and antidiabetic properties. With respect to vascular biology, omentin causes vasodilatation of blood vessels and attenuates C-reactive protein-induced angiogenesis. The ability of omentin to reduce insulin resistance in conjunction with its anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties makes it a promising therapeutic target. Thus, omentin may have beneficial effects on the metabolic syndrome and could potentially be used as a biologic marker and/or pharmacologic agent/target in this respect.

Cite this article as:

Zhou Ji-Yin, Chan Lawrence and Zhou Shi-Wen, Omentin: Linking Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Disease, Current Vascular Pharmacology 2014; 12 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570161112999140217095038