Hormonal
Inducible overexpression of VEGF-A in white adipose tissue (WAT) during early high-fat diet exposure promotes angiogenesis, induces a 'browning' phenotype (increased UCP1/PGC1α), and improves systemic metabolic health by enhancing insulin sensitivity and energy expenditure.
This research suggests that maintaining healthy blood vessel density in fat tissue is crucial for metabolic health. While this is a mouse study using genetic modification, it implies that factors supporting healthy vascularization (like exercise) may help prevent the hypoxia and inflammation associated with obesity.
We demonstrate that the local up-regulation of VEGF-A in adipocytes improves vascularization and causes a 'browning' of white adipose tissue (AT), with massive up-regulation of UCP1 and PGC1α. This is associated with an increase in energy expenditure and resistance to high fat diet-mediated metabolic insults.
Why this rating
High-quality mechanistic evidence using transgenic mouse models and specific antibody blockade, though results are preclinical.
Source
Dichotomous effects of VEGF-A on adipose tissue dysfunction
Kai Sun et al. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2012
DOI 10.1073/pnas.1200447109
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