Adipokine General effects Vascular effects References Leptin Satiating factor Endothelial dysfunction [67 , 85 , 160 –165 ] Resistin Relates obesity to diabetes by inducing insulin resistance Impairs endothelial function due to an increase in ET-1 production and a decrease in NO production [166 , 167 ] Adiponectin Levels inversely correlate with obesity NO-dependent vasorelaxation mediated by
channels [91 , 93 , 94 , 168 ] Visfatin Expression correlates with obesity degree NO-dependent vasorelaxation [169 –171 ] TNFα Links inflammation with obesityα expression induces ROS production Endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilatation [94 , 99 , 172 –178 ] Interleukin-6 Contributes to systemic inflammation and insulin resistance Endothelium-independent vasodilatation [94 , 179 –182 ] Prostanoids See vascular effects Vasoconstriction or vasodilatation depending on which prostanoid [183 , 184 ] Angiotensin II See vascular effects+ and water homeostasis Vasoconstriction [185 , 186 ] Endothelin-1 See vascular effects Vasoconstriction [187 ] Reactive oxygen species Numerous biological effects Vasoconstriction through Ca2+ sensitization [73 , 188 , 189 ] Adventitial derived relaxing factor See vascular effects Vasorelaxation through opening different K+ channels [75 , 76 , 78 –80 ]
