Abstract
Cardiac natriuretic peptides (NPs) play critical roles in body systems, besides essentially maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis. White adipose tissue exerts functions such as energy storage, hormone secretion, thermal insulation, regulation of insulin sensitization, and prevention of traumatic injuries to vital organs. Brown adipose tissue is a thermogenic tissue that protects the body from cold environments by dissipation of chemical energy derived from fuel substrates as heat. NPs have potent regulatory effects on adipose tissues having high expression of NP receptors. Evidence suggests that the NP system participates in the regulation of adipose tissue metabolism during obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Reduced NP synthesis and changed clearance receptor expression may adversely affect NPs’ target organ metabolism during obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Defective NP system might lead to adipose tissue dysfunction during obesity, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease. Improved NP levels have been associated with positive metabolic outcomes. The positive association between increased NP levels and lower incidence of insulin resistance, obesity, and type 2 diabetes holds promise for future applications of NPs system in clinical settings. This chapter provides an overview of the impact of the NP system on adipose tissue metabolism in cardiometabolic diseases.