Cardiac fat, with its unique location in direct contact with cardiomyocytes, has emerged as a new risk factor and active player, in cardiovascular diseases. It includes epicardial adipose tissue, an ectopic fascinating fat with endocrine properties and unique immune and beiging characteristics, as well as intramyocardial fat or cardiac steatosis. Accumulation of toxic lipid intermediates, particularly ceramides, induces oxidative stress, increases the production of reactive oxygen species and results in organelle dysfunction and damage of cardiomyocyte membranes. The dynamics of intramyocardial lipids is incompletely known and the impact of subtle modification of hormones levels such as thyroid hormones, growth hormone, cortisol and insulin on its dynamics and on heart function, needs to be uncovered.
This Research Topic aims to provide insights into the cross-talk between adipokines, hormones and myocardial triglyceride deposition as well as epicardial adipose tissue expansion, inflammation and browning and how this contributes to cardiovascular disease.
We welcome the submission of original research, reviews, and expert opinions, that include but are not limited to the following areas concerning cardiac fat in metabolic and endocrine diseases:
• Epigenetic, genetic and environment factors associated to cardiac fat
• Molecular mechanisms and pathogenic pathways of cardiac fat development in endocrine diseases
• Crosstalk between cardiac adipose tissue and heart
• Novel diagnostic tools to evaluate epicardial fat and myocardial triglyceride content
• Modulation of cardiac fat after control of endocrine diseases or metabolic diseases treatment
Cardiac fat, with its unique location in direct contact with cardiomyocytes, has emerged as a new risk factor and active player, in cardiovascular diseases. It includes epicardial adipose tissue, an ectopic fascinating fat with endocrine properties and unique immune and beiging characteristics, as well as intramyocardial fat or cardiac steatosis. Accumulation of toxic lipid intermediates, particularly ceramides, induces oxidative stress, increases the production of reactive oxygen species and results in organelle dysfunction and damage of cardiomyocyte membranes. The dynamics of intramyocardial lipids is incompletely known and the impact of subtle modification of hormones levels such as thyroid hormones, growth hormone, cortisol and insulin on its dynamics and on heart function, needs to be uncovered.
This Research Topic aims to provide insights into the cross-talk between adipokines, hormones and myocardial triglyceride deposition as well as epicardial adipose tissue expansion, inflammation and browning and how this contributes to cardiovascular disease.
We welcome the submission of original research, reviews, and expert opinions, that include but are not limited to the following areas concerning cardiac fat in metabolic and endocrine diseases:
• Epigenetic, genetic and environment factors associated to cardiac fat
• Molecular mechanisms and pathogenic pathways of cardiac fat development in endocrine diseases
• Crosstalk between cardiac adipose tissue and heart
• Novel diagnostic tools to evaluate epicardial fat and myocardial triglyceride content
• Modulation of cardiac fat after control of endocrine diseases or metabolic diseases treatment
