Table 2.

Possible link of resistin, C-reactive protein and apelin with vascular inflammation, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease

Adipokine	Modulation of inflammation	Association with CVD
Resistin	↑NFκB dependent cytokine release and adhesion molecule expression (including TNF-α/IL-6) on endothelial cells ↑ proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells through ERK and PI3K pathways	Endothelial dysfunction: ↓ NO and EDHF ↑ ET-1 release ↑ VEGF and MMP ↑ expression of adhesion molecules and chemokines ↓ TRAF-3 Controversial effects in humans on insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
CRP	↑ expression of ICAM, VCAM, E selectin recruitment of mononuclear cells through MCP 1 VSMC proliferation, migration ↑ CD4+ LymphocitesT ↑ gamma – INF production ↑ ET-1 release ↑ CD40/CD40L on endothelium ↑ complement activation	↑ endothelial dysfunction through ↓ NO vasodilatation ↑ oxidized LDL opsonization and macrophages uptake with subsequent foam cells formation ↑ in vessel wall oxidative stress ↑ TF and PAI 1 ↑ MMP
Apelin	↓ superoxide radicals ↓ NADPHO ↓ oxidative injury ↑ NO ↑ vascular progenitor cells mobilization	↑ inotropism ↑ neoangiogenesis ↓ endothelial dysfunction↓ Ang II and BP ↓ myocardial damage after infarction ↑ cholesterol efflux from macrophages

Ang: Angiotensin; BP: Blood pressure; CRP: C-reactive protein; CVD: Cardiovascular disease; EDHF: Endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor; ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinase; ET-1: Endothelin-1; HDL-C: High density lipoprotein cholesterol; ICAM: Intercellular adhesion molecule; IL: Interleukin; INF: Interferon; LDL-C: Low density lipoprotein cholesterol; MCP: Monocyte chemoattractant protein; MMP: Metalloproteinase; NADPHO: Nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase; NO: Nitric oxide; PI3K: Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase; TF: Tissue factor; TNF: Tumor necrosis factor; TRAF: Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor; VCAM: Vascular cell adhesion molecule; VEGF: Vascular endothelial cell growth factor; VSMC: Vascular smooth muscle cells.