Correlation between plasma levels of apelin and myocardial hypertrophy in rats and humans: possible target for treatment?

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

Falcão-Pires I (Author) FMUP; Gonçalves N (Author) FMUP; Gavina C (Author) FMUP; Pinho S (Author) FMUP; Teixeira T (Author) Other; Moura C (Author) FMUP; Amorim MJ (Author) FMUP; Pinho P (Author) Other; Areias JC (Author) FMUP; Leite-Moreira AF (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets

Vol. 14 No. 2

Pages: 231-241

ISSN: 1472-8222

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 22 Citations

Scopus - 22 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Other medical sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-8MM

DOI: 10.1517/14728220903485685

Abstract (EN): Objective: To investigate the effects of left ventricular (LV) pressure overload and diabetes on the apelinergic system. Research design/methods: Pressure overload was established in rats by supra-renal aortic-banding. Six weeks later, diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, intraperitoneal), resulting in four groups: sham, banded (BA), diabetic (DM) and diabetic-banded (DM-BA). Twelve weeks later, LV function and structure were evaluated by echocardiography and biopsies and plasma samples collected. Furthermore, plasma samples and LV-endomyocardial biopsies were procured from aortic stenosis and mitral stenosis patients during surgery to evaluate myocardial expression of apelin and APJ-receptor and plasma levels of apelin. Results: Direct correlations between apelin plasma levels and LV-mass index and between apelin and APJ myocardial expression were observed both in humans and rats. Expression of apelin and APJ was not significantly altered by pressure-overload in humans, being downregulated by pressure overload and even more by diabetes in rats. Finally, an inverse correlation between apelin rat plasma levels and its myocardial expression was observed. Conclusions: While apelin/APJ myocardial expression decreases, apelin plasma levels increase in LV hypertrophy. Considering apelin's positive inotropic and vasodilator properties, this elevation in apelin plasma levels may represent a compensatory mechanism to maintain inotropism and cardiac output during pressure-overload or diabetic cardiomyopathy.</.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11