Metabolic syndrome, plasminogen activator inhibitor (pai-1) and atherosclerosis

Abstract

Background: Metabolic syndrome is associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and its increasing prevalence is becoming one of the major health problems. Atherothrombotic process is accelerated in the metabolic syndrome and this is attributed to metabolic abnormalities, hypofibrinolysis due to increased plasma PAI-1 levels, and inflammation. Proinflammatory cytokines, particularly tumour necrosis factorα may have an important role in PAI-1 overexpression in the adipose tissue. PAI-1 might be involved in the etiopathogenesis of obesity and insulin resistance.Conclusions: To understand a complex interplay between metabolic syndrome, PAI-1 and atherosclerosis further studies are needed.

Keywords

• metabolic syndrome
• PAI-1
• atherosclerosis
• insulin resistance
• obesity
• adipose tissue