10
Disease Categories
Direct Adiposopathy ("Sick Fat") Cardiovascular Disease
Effects
"Sick" Epicardial Adipose Tissue (EAT) and
"Outside-to-in" Model of Atherosclerosis
"Sick" EAT and Promotion of
Atherosclerotic Plaque:
• Possible transport of oxidized
low-density lipoproteins
to coronary intima via
macrophages or vasa vasorum
• Proliferation of vascular smooth
muscle cells
• Worsening of atherosclerotic
plaque
• Weakening of the coronary wall
• Predisposition to plaque rupture
"Sick" EAT and
Inflammation:
• "Sick" EAT promotes
vasocrine dysregulation
• "Sick" EAT promotes
proinflammatory signaling
that may reach the
coronary artery intima
• Endothelial dysfunction
• Vasoconstriction
• Arterial stiffness
• Increased coronary calcium
