The CTVB Paper of the Month rewards one recent scientific paper of members of the institutions of the research center.
In Oktober 2016 the publication "The role of perivascular adipose tissue in obesity-induced vascular dysfunction" was elected as the Paper of the Month.
The perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is the tissue surrounding the blood vessels. Long time it was seen as a mechanical "cushion" for the vessels. It is now known that the PVAT secretes a range of substances, which regulates the vascular function. The PVAT appears to play a very important role in connection with obesity.
Now research results from the research group headed by Professor Li show, that a vessel dysfunction of adipose mice only is verifiable, if the PVAT is intact. When it gets removed, the vascular function remains absolutely normal. This observation points to the fact that the causes of an vessel dysfunction induced by abnormally overweight (adipositas) are located in the vascular wall itself. To explain this phenomenon, it was now possible to show on molecular level, that an enzyme (the NO synthase) in the PVAT of adipose mice was defective; but in the vascular wall it shows an absolute normal activity.
The Enzyme eNOS is known for ist protective role in the vascular endothelium. Here the produced NO protects against Hypertension, Atherosklerose and Thrombosis. Studies of the research group Li now show that the Enzyme eNOS is also of great importance for the PVAT function. If the eNOS-functionality gets improved by pharmacological measures, the vessel function of adipose mice returns to normal. It also works if the body weight and the fat mass of the adipose mice remain unchanged.
These data suggest that vascular damage under adipose conditions are not per se caused by body weight or fat mass, but arises from a PVAT dysfunction. So the PVAT could be a new therapeutic aim for prevention and therapy of adipositas caused vessel damages.
The role of perivascular adipose tissue in obesity-induced vascular dysfunction
British Journal of Pharmacology
doi: 10.1111/bph.13650
Xia N., Li H.