Metabolic Syndrome-Pathogenesis and Treatment from the View of Obesity and Adipocyte

Metabolic syndrome is a new concept of disease that indicates a high risk state for the development of atherosclerosis, and develops due to an over-intake of fat and lack of exercise based on our changing life style. Metabolic syndrome is accompanied by a number of metabolic disorders including dyslipidemia, high plasma glucose, hypertension and central obesity. One of the characteristics is an increased risk of coronary artery diseases or diabetes, even though the degree of each metabolic abnormality is not particularly severe. Insulin resistance plays a key role in the development of metabolic syndrome, this being closely associated with visceral fat accumulation. The pathogenesis of insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome is caused by a change in the secretion of such cytokines as TNF-a from adipocytes, depending on the region of accumulation. The treatment of metabolic syndrome needs long-term management of patients concerning modification of their life-style with the careful assessment of pathological adipocytes.