[Endothelial dysfunction in obesity].

The last decades have witnessed an explosive increase in the number of obese people in the Western world as well as in emerging countries. In obese subjects, the enlarged adipose tissues release more pro-inflammatory adipokines (in particular A-FABP and lipocalin-2) while the production of adiponectin, which exerts beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity, inflammation and cardiovascular function, is markedly reduced. As a consequence, as discussed in this article, obesity negatively affects the function of the endothelial cells and results in their progressive endothelial dysfunction with reduced release of relaxing signals (nitric oxide [NO]) and augmented production of vasoconstrictor prostaglandins (EDCF) which activate TP receptors on vascular smooth-muscle cells to cause their contraction.