Second, adipocytes, as an established and active endocrine cell type, can act in paracrine, autocrine, and endocrine ways to secrete various proinflammatory factors, adipokine, and hormones, such as adiponectin and leptin, thus enhancing the inflammatory phenotype of visceral adipocytes in synergy with infiltrating macrophages and ultimately leading to podocyte and endothelial dysfunction. Here, LEP is linked to endothelial dysfunction.