Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Cardiovascular Complications

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The cardiovascular system responds to multiple endocrine signals, and there are strong parallels between the mechanisms of endocrine and other types of signals that influence the function of the cardiovascular system (nutritional signals, nerve inputs, etc.). Endocrine signals that influence the cardiovascular system can be divided largely into two types according to whether they are mediated by nuclear receptors (including cholesterol and fatty acid metabolites, steroids, and thyroid hormones) or cell surface receptors that work by initiating second messenger signalling cascades (including peptide hormones, cytokines, and neurotransmitters). We discuss below the roles of nuclear and cell surface receptors separately. However, in reality, the actions of both types of signal overlap extensively and are significantly integrated. Cardiovascular disease and diabetes have emerged as major public health problems, both as distinct clinical entities and as comorbid conditions. As a result, the fields of Cardiovascular biology and endocrinology are working more closely now than ever before.