Angiogenesis and Obesity

Development of obesity is associated with substantial modulation of adipose tissue structure, involving adipogenesis, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix remodelling. These processes require proteolytic activity, provided mainly by the fibrinolytic (plasminogen/plasmin), matrix metalloproteinase, and ADAM/ADAMTS systems. In early-stage development of adipose tissue, adipogenesis is tightly associated with angiogenesis. Thus, adipose tissue explants trigger blood vessel formation, and in turn adipose tissue endothelial cells promote pre-adipocyte differentiation. Modulation of angiogenesis and of proteolytic systems may have the potential to impair adipose tissue development.