Endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization (EDH) in diet-induced obesity

Obesity is a serious health issue worldwide. Obesity and obesity-associated disease cause endothelial dysfunction, leading to cardiovascular complications. In resistance-size arteries, endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization (EDH) initiated in endothelial cells plays a central role in endothelium-dependent vasodilation, and a number of studies have reported impaired EDH in obese animals and humans. The resulting impairment of EDH in obesity could initiate and accelerate obesity-associated comorbidities such as hypertension and insulin resistance, which ultimately lead to cardiovascular disease. In this review, we present the current knowledge about changes in EDH in obese animals and humans, particularly in studies of diet-induced obese animals. Unlike genetically modified obese animals, diet-induced obese models mimic many features of human obesity. We then explore underlying mechanisms of impaired EDH in diet-induced obesity, with special attention to the role of vascular ion channels.