Association of digestive organ disease with metabolic syndrome: role of adipocytokine and its molecular mechanisms.

Recently, lifestyle-related disease due to excess nutrition and insufficient physical exercise has been increasing in developed countries, including Japan. Metabolic syndrome is related to visceral fat accumulation in individuals with upper body obesity. Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ that secretes adipocytokines such as adiponectin, leptin, and TNF-α. Obesity alters the secretion of adipocytokines, leading to insulin resistance and various other metabolic disorders. Little is known about how altered regulation of adipocytokines is related to the development and progression of digestive organ disease. Clarification of the mechanisms whereby such altered adipocytokine secretion participates in pathophysiology of digestive organ disease could lead to the development of preventive and therapeutic measures.