ABSTRACT
Adipose tissue plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular diseases. Abdominal and cardiac visceral fat depots, such as the epicardial adipose tissue, may indirectly or locally modulate myocardium and coronary arteries. Adipose tissue, including the epicardial fat, is a metabolically active organ that generates a variety of adipokines, bioactive molecules that may signifi cantly infl uence cardiac function and morphology. Th e physiological and pathophysiological role of the adipokines is still not completely known. In fact, while some adipokines may cause cardiovascular damage, others actually display clear cardioprotective properties. In particular, epicardial adipocytes can secrete both pro-and anti-infl ammatory adipokines and therefore a double role, harmful and protective, has been attributed to this visceral fat depot. Adipokines can be locally secreted through paracrine or vasocrine mechanisms. Co-occurrence of cardiovascular and metabolic abnormalities and increased or abnormal fat mass can produce increased, decreased or abnormal secretion of adipokines.
