Molecular Mechanisms of Vaspin Action – From Adipose Tissue to Skin and Bone, from Blood Vessels to the Brain

Visceral adipose tissue-derived serine proteaseinhibitor (vaspin) or SERPINA12 according to the serpin nomenclaturewas identified together with other genes and gene productsthat were specifically expressed or overexpressed in the intra-abdominal or visceral adipose tissue(AT) of the Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty rat. These rats spontaneously develop visceral obesity, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemiaand -glycemia, as well as hypertension and thus represent a well suited animal model of obesity and related metabolic disorderssuch as type 2 diabetes.