The Role of Vistafin in Diabetes-Induced Impairment of Endothelial Repair System

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is considered a leading factor of cardiovascular (CV) events in general population. Impairment of endogenous endothelial repair system plays a pivotal role in T2DM-induced microangiopathy and macroangiopathy and, however, may contribute in CV risk and outcomes. Recent studies have shown that the nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT) currently known as visfatin has reported an integral adipocytokine with proinflammatory and immunomodulating properties. It is suggested that visfatin/NAMPT may act as multifunctional agent with undefined effect on several targets especially endothelial cells and progenitor cells depending of metabolical status of the patients. The short commentary is discussed a possible role of visfatin/NAMPT as a biomarker of nature evolution of T2DM and as a target for therapeutic strategy aimed to improve endothelial function in T2DM patients in future.