Chemerin as a Driver of Cardiovascular Diseases: New Perspectives and Future Directions.

In recent years, the immune system has emerged as a key player in the development of atherosclerosis, heart failure, venous thromboembolism, and systemic hypertension. Obesity and related cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading global cause of death. Adipokines-hormones produced by adipose tissue-exert diverse endocrine and immunomodulatory effects. Among them, chemerin, discovered in the early 20th century, is a chemotactic molecule that recruits dendritic cells, endothelial cells, macrophages, and lymphocytes during early immune responses. It regulates cell migration and vascular homeostasis. Dysregulated adipokine profiles contribute to chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and impaired blood pressure control. This review explores chemerin's potential role in CVD pathogenesis, focusing on its immunomodulatory functions, impact on vascular inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. The presented work also examines recent findings on chemerin's diagnostic and therapeutic potential in cardiovascular health.