Epicardial Fat: Physiological, Pathological, and Therapeutic Implications

Figure 1

EAT secretion mechanism. Adipokines entering the wall by a “vasocrine” mechanism (a) using as transportation vasa vasorum or using a paracrine mechanism (b), which through dissemination adipokines pass down the gradient of concentration. The molecules continue to step up to the deeper layers of blood vessels (endothelial and muscular) which trigger several effects. EAT: epicardial adipose tissue, TNF-α: tumoral necrosis factor alpha, and IL-6: interleukin 6.

(a)

(b)