A Clinical Perspective: Contribution of Dysfunctional Perivascular Adipose Tissue (PVAT) to Cardiovascular Risk.

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is now recognized as an important paracrine organ influencing the homeostasis of the vessel wall, regional blood flow and peripheral arterial resistance. There is remarkable phenotypic variability and plasticity of PVAT among various vascular beds, exhibiting phenotypes from white to brown and beige adipocytes. PVAT dysfunction is characterized by disturbed secretion of various adipokines, which, together with endothelial dysfunction, contribute to hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This brief review describes our current knowledge on PVAT in health and cardiovascular disease, with a special focus on different phenotypes and signaling pathways in adipocytes of PVAT associated with hypertension, obesity and cardiovascular disorders.