Norepinephrine stress reactivity links to a lipid-rich coronary fat phenotype in humans: a cross-sectional study

Journal of Applied Physiology 2026

View at publisher
Authors: Roland von Känel, Tobia Albertini, Sarah A. Holzgang, Mary Princip, A A Giannopoulos, Ronny R. Buechel, Sinthujan Sivakumar, Claudia Zuccarella‐Hackl, Aju Paul Pazhenkottil
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01168.2025
Cited by: 0
References: 56

Abstract

This study highlights the association between acute norepinephrine (NE) stress reactivity and pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) attenuation, a marker of coronary inflammation. In male physicians, greater NE increase after acute psychosocial stress was linked to lower PCAT attenuation, reflecting a more lipid-rich perivascular adipose tissue phenotype. This suggests that heightened NE reactivity may indicate early coronary vulnerability. Burnout did not modify this relationship, pointing to NE reactivity as a distinct physiological pathway in cardiovascular risk.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Cardiovascular Disease and Adiposity Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control Adipokines Inflammation and Metabolic Diseases

Publication details

Journal / source
Journal of Applied Physiology
Volume
140
Issue
3
Pages
796–805
Publication date
16 February 2026
Language
EN