Chronic inflammation of adipose tissue is associated with the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Mast cells represent an important component of the innate defense system of the organism. In our work, we quantified mast cell number in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and right atrial myocardium (RA) in patients undergoing open heart surgery (n=57). Bioptic samples of EAT (n=44), SAT (n=42) and RA (n=17) were fixed by 4 % paraformaldehyde and embedded into paraffin. An anti-mast cell tryptase antibody was used for immunohistochemical detection and quantification of mast cells. We also demonstrated immunohistochemically the expression of CD117 and chymase markers. In EAT of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), higher incidence of mast cells has been found compared to patients without CAD (3.7±2.6 vs. 2.1±1.2 cells/mm(2)). In SAT and RA, there was no difference in the number of mast cells in CAD and non-CAD patients. Mast cells in SAT, EAT and RA expressed CD117 and chymase. An increased incidence of mast cells in EAT of CAD patients may indicate the specific role of these inflammatory cells in relation to EAT and coronary arteries affected by atherosclerosis.

• MeSH
• Biomarkers metabolism   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Cardiac Surgical Procedures adverse effects   methods   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Mast Cells metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Myocardium metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Coronary Artery Disease metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Pericardium metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Adipose Tissue metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Inflammation etiology   metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Biomarkers MeSH

Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifaceted matricellular protein, with well-recognized roles in both the physiological and pathological processes in the body. OPN is expressed in the main organs and cell types, in which it induces different biological actions. During physiological conditioning, OPN acts as both an intracellular protein and soluble excreted cytokine, regulating tissue remodeling and immune-infiltrate in adipose tissue the heart and the kidney. In contrast, the increased expression of OPN has been correlated with the severity of the cardiovascular and renal outcomes associated with obesity. Indeed, OPN expression is at the "cross roads" of visceral fat extension, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and renal disorders, in which OPN orchestrates the molecular interactions, leading to chronic low-grade inflammation. The common factor associated with OPN overexpression in adipose, cardiac and renal tissues seems attributable to the concomitant increase in visceral fat size and the increase in infiltrated OPN+ macrophages. This review underlines the current knowledge on the molecular interactions between obesity and the cardiac-renal disorders ruled by OPN.

• Keywords
• cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), chronic kidney disease (CKD), obesity, osteopontin (OPN), renal disorders, visceral adipose tissue (VAT),
• MeSH
• Insulin Resistance genetics   MeSH
• Kidney metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Myocardium metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Kidney Diseases genetics   metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Heart Diseases genetics   metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Intra-Abdominal Fat metabolism   MeSH
• Obesity genetics   metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Osteopontin genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Adipose Tissue metabolism   MeSH
• Inflammation genetics   pathology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Osteopontin MeSH