Jarmila Okapcová
Connection between obesity and insulin resistance is well known. Last years have brought new information that fatty tissue is not only a passive reservoir of energy but it also produces an array of biologically active products. Many of them, referred to as adipocytokines, participate directly or indirectly at the process of adipogenesis, control energetic homeostasis,intermediary metabolism of glucose and lipids and insulin sensitivity. Their participation at initiation of inflammatory process in the wall of vessels, characteristic for development of atherosclerosis, was also confirmed. Effects of some adipocytokines are positive regarding insulin sensitivity, but some of them evoke insulin resistance. Present knowledge of metabolic activity of adipocytes and its regulation indicate that adipocytokines dysfunction might be a connecting part between obesity and development of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.