Metabolic Inflammation as a Common Thread in Cardio-Endocrine Diseases: Toward a Unified Therapeutic Framework

TL;DR

This review explores how inflammation connects heart and hormone-related diseases, suggesting shared treatments and highlighting research gaps.

Contribution

The paper proposes a unified therapeutic framework for cardio-endocrine diseases through the lens of metabolic inflammation.

Findings

Visceral adipose tissue inflammation and mitochondrial stress are shared pathogenic factors in cardio-endocrine diseases.

Biomarkers like IL-6 and CRP offer diagnostic and prognostic value in these conditions.

Therapies such as SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists show promise in treating both cardiovascular and endocrine disorders.

Abstract

Metabolic inflammation, or metaflammation, has emerged as a unifying mechanism linking cardiovascular and endocrine disorders. This narrative review aimed to synthesize mechanistic, clinical, and therapeutic evidence on how inflammation bridges these domains and to explore prospects for a unified therapeutic framework. We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for English-language articles published between 2010 and 2024, yielding 256 relevant articles, of which 115 were included after detailed screening. Studies addressing adipose tissue inflammation, gut microbiota dysbiosis, innate immune activation, mitochondrial dysfunction, clinical biomarkers, and anti-inflammatory therapies were analyzed. Evidence demonstrates that visceral adipose tissue (VAT) inflammation, inflammasome activation, and mitochondrial oxidative stress form shared pathogenic nodes across cardiovascular and endocrine diseases. Clinical correlates, including biomarkers such as IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), glycoprotein acetylation (GlycA), and exosomes, provide diagnostic and prognostic insights, while therapeutic convergence has been highlighted by sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, and IL-1β-targeted interventions. Lifestyle modifications such as Mediterranean diets, microbiota-directed therapies, and intermittent fasting further reinforce dual-organ protection. Despite significant advances, limitations remain in translating multi-omics discoveries, biomarker integration, and systems pharmacology into routine practice. Current evidence underscores the need for prospective trials incorporating inflammatory phenotyping, composite cardio-endocrine outcomes, and patient-centered endpoints. Research gaps include the lack of standardized biomarkers, insufficient inclusion of diverse populations, and limited mechanistic insights from physiologically relevant models such as organ-on-chip (OoC) systems and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived organoids. Future studies must prioritize precision-medicine approaches and integrated care models to reduce the global burden of cardio-endocrine disease.

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