Epigenetic Regulation of Adipocytes Phenotype: Implication for Perivascular Adipose Tissue Contribution to Cardiometabolic Diseases

Abstract

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) has emerged in the past decades as an integral part of the vasculature (tunica adiposa), contributing by the release of adipokines, to important physiological process such as vascular tone regulation. The metabolic syndrome is associated with an increase deposition of PVAT and the development of atherosclerosis. Whereas healthy PVAT protect the vasculature from inflammation, lipid accumulation and hypothermia, the dysfunctional PVAT observed in the metabolic syndrome favour many features of atherosclerosis such as endothelial dysfunction, vascular smooth muscle proliferation and inflammation. The down- and up-regulation of adiponectin, leptin and nerve growth factor, respectively in the dysfunctional PVAT perfectly illustrates this change. Phenotypically, healthy PVAT resembles the thermogenic brown and beige adipocytes, however, recent data suggest a loss of PVAT thermogenic phenotype during the metabolic syndrome in a process called `PVAT whitening`. This review will provide a current perspective on the factors susceptible to influence PVAT epigenetics and the consequences of PVAT dysfunction on cardiometabolic diseases.