Inflammation, a Link between Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease

Figure 2

Mechanism of the relationship between inflammation induced by obesity and cardiovascular disease. Gray box shows the traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. The arrow and plus symbols indicate the enhanced courses. Smoking, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, physical inactivity and hypercholesterolemia are established risk factors of CVD. In obese individuals, macrophages first accumulate within the adipose tissue, leading to local inflammation. As the obesity increases, several proinflammatory factors, including IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-$\alpha$, are produced in the adipose tissue. Macrophage accumulation and the subsequent local inflammation are believed to result in numerous metabolic dysfunctions that typically accompany obesity, including systemic inflammation. Endothelial dysfunction occurs during the early stages of atherosclerosis and is responsible for the pathophysiological changes in subclinical atherosclerosis, which include changes in a variety of mediators, surface proteins, and in autacoids that are involved in vasomotion, coagulation and inflammation. Obesity also can increase systemic oxidative stress independently of blood glucose and diabetes. One of the major events of atherosclerosis is CVD.