Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is secreted by vascular smooth muscle cells, adipocytes and endothelial cells with functional monoamine oxidase activity and is elevated in atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and obesity.
Finally, the demonstrated AOC3 turnover of primary amines that are non-native to human tissue suggests possible roles for the adipocyte enzyme in subcutaneous bacterial infiltration and obesity.
Pargyline (P, MAO inhibitor), semicarbazide (S, SSAO inhibitor), alone or in combination (P+S), were daily i.p. administered for 3-5 weeks to obese Zucker rats at doses ranging from 20 to 300 micromol/kg.
These findings suggest that, although manipulation of VAP-1/SSAO has potential to serve as a therapeutic treatment in insulin-resistant conditions, care must be taken to fully understand its impact on obesity and vascular damage.