Metabolic syndrome pathophysiology

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S. [2]; Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [3]; Aarti Narayan, M.B.B.S [4]

Overview

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a cluster of conditions that greatly increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and stroke. By definition one is said to have a metabolic syndrome if they have 3 of the following 5 conditions: high blood pressure (>130/85), abnormal fasting blood glucose > 100 mg/dl, increased weight around the waist (women > 35 inches, male > 40 inches), triglycerides > 150 mg/dl and a low HDL (female < 50, male < 40).

Pathophysiology

• The cause of metabolic syndrome is unknown.
• The pathophysiology is extremely complex and has only been partially elucidated.
• Most patients are older, obese, sedentary, and have a degree of insulin resistance.

Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is considered the most acceptable hypothesis to describe the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome. Free fatty acids, released from the expanding adipose tissue in obese patients, are the major contributors for the development of insulin resistance. In the liver elevated levels of these free fatty acids lead to increased production of glucose, TGs, VLDLs and LDLs. Free fatty acids inhibit insulin-mediated glucose uptake in the muscles. Increased circulating glucose stimulates increased pancreatic insulin secretion resulting in hyperinsulinemia. Excessive free fatty acids down regulate signalling pathways and lead to insulin resistance. Hyperinsulinemic state results in enhanced sodium reabsorption and increased sympathetic nervous system activity which in turn leads to hypertension. Obesity is a proinflammatory state and adipocytes enhance the secretion of interleukin-6, C-reactive protein and TNF which results in more insulin resistance and lipolysis of adipose tissue to FFAs. TNFα has been shown to not only cause the production of inflammatory cytokines, but may also trigger cell signaling by interaction with a TNFα receptor that may lead to insulin resistance. Cytokines and FFAs are also known to enhance the production of fibrinogen by the liver and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) resulting in a prothrombotic state. An experiment with rats that were fed a diet one-third of which was sucrose has been proposed as a model for the development of the metabolic syndrome. The sucrose first elevated blood levels of triglycerides, which induced visceral fat and ultimately resulted in insulin resistance . The progression from visceral fat to increased TNFα to insulin resistance has some parallels to human development of metabolic syndrome. Adiponectin is an anti-inflammatory cytokine produced by the adipose tissue. It enhances insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in the muscles. Its levels are reduced in metabolic syndrome.

Obesity

Studies have shown that upper body obesity is strongly associated with insulin resistance. Obesity is known to promote insulin resistance. However not all insulin-resistant individuals are overweight or obese. Adipose tissue in obese people is insulin resistant which causes elevated levels of free fatty acid levels in the blood, which in turn worsens insulin resistance in muscles and liver.

Oxidative Stress

Defects in the myocardial oxidative phosphorylation that lead to accumulation of TGs and lipid molecules in the muscles have been identified in elderly patients with type II diabetes or obesity. Accumulation of these lipids in the muscles is associated with insulin resistance. Some have pointed to oxidative stress due to a variety of causes including dietary fructose mediated increased uric acid levels.

Hypertension

Insulin is a vasodilator under normal physiologic conditions with secondary effects on sodium reabsorption. In hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance this vasodilatory effect of insulin is lost but the sodium reabsorption effect on the kidney is preserved. In caucasians this reabsorptive effect is increased in metabolic syndrome. Insulin also increases sympathetic nervous system activity and this effect is preserved in insulin resistance. Impairment of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase signaling pathway causes imbalance between the production of NO and endothelin-1 resulting in reduced blood flow.

Glucose Intolerance

Glucose intolerance due to defects in insulin in turn leads to increased production of insulin to maintain euglycemia. When this compensatory mechanism fails, the result is progression from glucose intolerance to DM.

Associated Disorders

• Type II diabetes
  • The risk of developing diabetes mellitus in patients with metabolic syndrome is very high.
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
  • Women with PCOS are more likely to have metabolic syndrome than women without PCOS.
• Hemochromatosis (iron overload)
  • The dysmetabolic iron overload syndrome seen very commonly in metabolic syndrome can result in hemochromatosis.
• Obstructive sleep apnea
  • This condition is associated with obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and increase in circulating inflammatory cytokines. Insulin resistance is greater in patients with obstructive sleep apnea in comparison to weight matched controls.
• Hyperuricemia
  • Increase in serum uric acid levels is a result of defective action of insulin on the renal tubular cells. An increase in asymmetric methylarginine signifies endothelial dysfunction secondary to an insulin resistant state.
• Gout
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
  • Inflammation and triglyceride accumulation coexists in this condition. This condition can result in fibrosis or cirrhosis of the liver, ultimately causing hepatic failure.