Apelin, the endogenous ligand of the G protein-coupled receptor (APJ), plays an important role in the physiological response to homeostatic perturbations. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of apelin on the functions of peritoneal macrophages. A double staining immunofluorescence technique was used to determine the expression of APJ in peritoneal macrophages. Rat peritoneal macrophages were randomly divided into three groups: control, apelin and apelin+F13A. A significant decrease in phagocytic and chemotactic activity of peritoneal macrophages resulted when the macrophages were incubated with [Pry(1)]-Apelin-13 (10 ng/ml). Incubation of peritoneal macrophages with the APJ receptor antagonist, F13A (20 ng/ml) prevented the suppressive effect of apelin on phagocytosis and chemotaxis. Peritoneal macrophages incubated with [Pry(1)]-Apelin-13 exhibited a decrease in the production of TNF-alpha and IL-6 compared to the control macrophages. Incubation of peritoneal macrophages with [Pry(1)]-Apelin-13 plus F13A prevented the decrease in the production of proinflammatory cytokines produced by [Pry(1)]-Apelin-13. In conclusion, apelin may be a mediator that inhibits the functions of activated macrophages.

• MeSH
• apelin farmakologie   MeSH
• fagocytóza účinky léků   fyziologie   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mediátory zánětu metabolismus   MeSH
• mezibuněčné signální peptidy a proteiny farmakologie   MeSH
• peritoneální makrofágy účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• viabilita buněk účinky léků   fyziologie   MeSH
• vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• apelin 13, Pyr(1)- MeSH Prohlížeč
• apelin MeSH
• mediátory zánětu MeSH
• mezibuněčné signální peptidy a proteiny MeSH

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with multiple risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, including insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus type 2, obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia. Many studies have assessed the role of adipokines in the etiopathogenesis of PCOS, however, no single biomarker has been recognized to be in causal relation to the syndrome. Apelin has been identified as a new adipokine linked to obesity and insulin resistance. Some studies demonstrated that the apelin / apelin receptor could play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome, however the other yielded controversial results. Underlying mechanisms of possible involvement of apelin/apelin receptor complex are discussed.

• MeSH
• adipokiny MeSH
• apelin MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• inzulinová rezistence * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• syndrom polycystických ovarií * patologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adipokiny MeSH
• apelin MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH

The present study investigated the participation of the nitric oxide pathway in facilitating lordosis behavior induced by intrahypothalamic administration of apelin-13 in ovariectomized rats primed with estradiol benzoate (EB). The experiments involved the administration of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NAME) or a nitric oxide-dependent, soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor (ODQ), and an inhibitor of protein kinase G (KT5823) to the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) of EB-primed rats 30 min before infusion of apelin-13 (0.75 μg/μl). This dose of apelin-13 consistently induces lordosis behavior at 30 min, 120 min, and 240 min following infusion. Results showed that injections of either L-NAME or KT5823 significantly reduced the lordosis induced by apelin at 120 and 240 min. However, VMH infusion of ODQ 30 min before apelin-13 infusion reduced but did not significantly inhibit, the lordosis elicited by this peptide at the same time points. We conclude that the nitric oxide pathway in the VMH plays an important role in lordosis induced by apelin-13 in EB-primed rats.

• Klíčová slova
• Apelin-13, Lordosis behavior, Nitric oxide,
• MeSH
• estradiol farmakologie   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• lordóza * chemicky indukované   MeSH
• NG-nitroargininmethylester farmakologie   MeSH
• oxid dusnatý * metabolismus   MeSH
• sexuální chování zvířat fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• apelin-13 peptide MeSH Prohlížeč
• estradiol MeSH
• NG-nitroargininmethylester MeSH
• oxid dusnatý * MeSH

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with high risk of stroke preventable by timely initiation of anticoagulation. Currently available screening tools based on ECG are not optimal due to inconvenience and high costs. Aim of this study was to study the diagnostic value of apelin for AF in patients with high risk of stroke. Methods: We designed a multicenter, matched-cohort study. The population consisted of three study groups: a healthy control group (34 patients) and two matched groups of 60 patients with high risk of stroke (AF and non-AF group). Apelin levels were examined from peripheral blood. Results: Apelin was significantly lower in AF group compared to non-AF group (0.694 ± 0.148 vs. 0.975 ± 0.458 ng/ml, p = 0.001) and control group (0.982 ± 0.060 ng/ml, p < 0.001), respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of apelin as a predictor of AF scored area under the curve (AUC) of 0.658. Apelin's concentration of 0.969 [ng/ml] had sensitivity = 0.966 and specificity = 0.467. Logistic regression based on manual feature selection showed that only apelin and NT-proBNP were independent predictors of AF. Logistic regression based on selection from bivariate analysis showed that only apelin was an independent predictor of AF. A logistic regression model using repeated stratified K-Fold cross-validation strategy scored an AUC of 0.725 ± 0.131. Conclusions: Our results suggest that apelin might be used to rule out AF in patients with high risk of stroke.

• Klíčová slova
• apelin, atrial fibrillation, biomarker, electrical atrial remodeling, ischemic stroke,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

In normal hormonal conditions, increased neuronal activity in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) induces lordosis whereas activation of the preoptic area (POA) exerts an opposite effect. In the present work, we explored the effect of bilateral infusion of different doses of the apelin-13 (0.37, 0.75, 1.5, and 15 μg) in both brain areas on the expression of lordosis behavior. Lordosis quotient and lordosis reflex score were performed at 30, 120, and 240 min. Weak lordosis was observed following the 0.37 μg dose of apelin-13 at 30 min in the VMH of EB-primed rats; however, the rest of the doses induced significant lordosis relative to the control group. At 120 min, all doses induced lordosis behavior, while at 240 min, the highest dose of 15 μg did not induce significant differences. Interestingly, only the 0.75 μg infusion of apelin in the POA induced significant lordosis at 120 and 240 min. These results indicate that apelin-13 acts preferably in HVM and slightly in POA to initiate lordosis behavior in estrogen-primed rats.

• Klíčová slova
• Apelin-13, Lordosis, Preoptic area, Ventromedial hypothalamus,
• MeSH
• area praeoptica * účinky léků   patologie   MeSH
• estradiol farmakologie   MeSH
• estrogeny farmakologie   MeSH
• hypothalamus účinky léků   patologie   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• lordóza * chemicky indukované   MeSH
• mezibuněčné signální peptidy a proteiny * farmakologie   MeSH
• nucleus ventromedialis hypothalami účinky léků   patologie   MeSH
• progesteron farmakologie   MeSH
• sexuální chování zvířat účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• apelin-13 peptide MeSH Prohlížeč
• estradiol MeSH
• estrogeny MeSH
• mezibuněčné signální peptidy a proteiny * MeSH
• progesteron MeSH

Atrial fibrillation is associated with atrial remodeling, in which connexin 43 (Cx43) and cell hypertrophy play important roles. In this study, apelin-13, an aliphatic peptide, was used to explore the protective effects of the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mTOR signaling pathway on Cx43 expression and autophagy, using murine atrial HL-1 cells. The expression of Cx43, AMPK, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and pathway-related proteins was detected by Western blot analysis. Cellular fluorescence imaging was used to visualize Cx43 distribution and the cytoskeleton. Our results showed that the Cx43 expression was significantly decreased in HL-1 cells treated with angiotensin II but increased in cells additionally treated with apelin-13. Meanwhile, apelin-13 decreased BNP expression and increased AMPK expression. However, the expression of Cx43 and LC3 increased by apelin-13 was inhibited by treatment with compound C, an AMPK inhibitor. In addition, rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, promoted the development of autophagy, further inhibited the protective effect on Cx43 expression and increased cell hypertrophy. Thus, apelin-13 enhances Cx43 expression and autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway, and serving as a potential therapeutic target for atrial fibrillation.

• MeSH
• angiotensin II farmakologie   MeSH
• autofagie účinky léků   MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• down regulace účinky léků   MeSH
• fibrilace síní metabolismus   patologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• kardiomyocyty účinky léků   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• konexin 43 metabolismus   MeSH
• lékové interakce MeSH
• mezibuněčné signální peptidy a proteiny farmakologie   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• proteinkinasy aktivované AMP metabolismus   MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   MeSH
• TOR serin-threoninkinasy metabolismus   MeSH
• vazokonstriktory farmakologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• angiotensin II MeSH
• apelin-13 peptide MeSH Prohlížeč
• GJA1 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• konexin 43 MeSH
• mezibuněčné signální peptidy a proteiny MeSH
• proteinkinasy aktivované AMP MeSH
• TOR serin-threoninkinasy MeSH
• vazokonstriktory MeSH

Apelin is a peptide known to have a vital role in cardiovascular diseases. It has been proven to induce proliferation and tube formation in endothelial cells, stabilise contacts between endothelial cells, and mediate pericyte recruitment. Since apelin level is reduced early after myocardial infarction, a supportive therapy with apelin is being investigated for its beneficial effect on blood vessel formation. It is becoming apparent, however, that the final effect of apelin often depends on stimuli the cell receives and the cross-talk with other molecules inside the cell. Hence, understanding the apelin pathway potentially can help us to improve angiogenic therapy. This review summarises recent knowledge regarding molecules involved in apelin signalling while focusing on their roles in angiogenesis within the ischemic environment after myocardial infarction.

• Klíčová slova
• Angiogenesis, Apelin, Apelin-12 (PubChem CID: 479167), Apelin-13 (PubChem CID: 71433878), Apelin-36 (PubChem CID: 16130451), Endothelial cells, Myocardial infarction, Signalling pathways, [Pyr1]-apelin-13 (PubChem CID: 25078060),
• MeSH
• endoteliální buňky metabolismus   MeSH
• fyziologická neovaskularizace fyziologie   MeSH
• infarkt myokardu metabolismus   MeSH
• intracelulární signální peptidy a proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• ischemická choroba srdeční metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• patologická angiogeneze metabolismus   MeSH
• signální transdukce fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• intracelulární signální peptidy a proteiny MeSH

Adipocytokines are hormonally active molecules that are believed to play a key role in the regulation of crucial biological processes in the human body. Numerous experimental studies established significant alterations in the adipokine secretion patterns throughout pregnancy. The exact etiology of various gestational complications, such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and fetal growth abnormalities, needs to be fully elucidated. The discovery of adipokines raised questions about their potential contribution to the molecular pathophysiology of those diseases. Multiple studies analyzed their local mRNA expression and circulating protein levels. However, most studies report conflicting results. Several adipokines such as leptin, resistin, irisin, apelin, chemerin, and omentin were proposed as potential novel early markers of heterogeneous gestational complications. The inclusion of the adipokines in the standard predictive multifactorial models could improve their prognostic values. Nonetheless, their independent diagnostic value is mostly insufficient to be implemented into standard clinical practice. Routine assessments of adipokine levels during pregnancy are not recommended in the management of both normal and complicated pregnancies. Based on the animal models (e.g., apelin and its receptors in the rodent preeclampsia models), future implementation of adipokines and their receptors as new therapeutic targets appears promising but requires further validation in humans.

• Klíčová slova
• adiponectin, apelin, chemerin, gestational diabetes, irisin, leptin, omentin, preeclampsia, resistin, visfatin,
• MeSH
• adipokiny metabolismus   MeSH
• biologické markery metabolismus   MeSH
• gestační diabetes metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• preeklampsie metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adipokiny MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH

Adipose tissue is now described as an endocrine organ secreting a number of adipokines contributing to the development of inflammation and metabolic imbalance, but also endothelial dysfunction, vascular remodeling, atherosclerosis, and ischemic stroke. Leptin, adiponectin, and resistin are the most studied adipokines which play important roles in the regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis. Leptin and adiponectin mediate both proatherogenic and antiatherogenic responses. Leptin and adiponectin have been linked to the development of coronary heart disease and may be involved in the underlying biological mechanism of ischemic stroke. Resistin, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is predictive of atherosclerosis and poor clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke. The changes in serum levels of novel adipokines apelin, visfatin are also associated with acute ischemic stroke. These adipokines have been proposed as potential prognostic biomarkers of cardiovascular mortality/morbidity and therapeutic targets in patients with cardiometabolic diseases. In this article, we summarize the biologic role of the adipokines and discuss the link between dysfunctional adipose tissue and metabolic/inflammation imbalance, consequently endothelial damage, progression of atherosclerotic disease, and the occurrence of ischemic stroke.

• Klíčová slova
• Adipokines, Adiponectin, Apelin, Atherosclerosis, Inflammation, Ischemic stroke, Leptin, Metabolic changes, Resistin, Visfatin,
• MeSH
• adipokiny metabolismus   MeSH
• ateroskleróza metabolismus   MeSH
• cévní mozková příhoda metabolismus   MeSH
• ischemie metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci cév metabolismus   MeSH
• nemoci nervového systému metabolismus   MeSH
• tuková tkáň metabolismus   MeSH
• zánět metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adipokiny MeSH

Adipokines are peptides that signal the functional status of adipose tissue to the brain and other target organs. In adipose tissue dysfunction, adipokine secretion is altered, and this can contribute to a spectrum of obesity-associated conditions including cardiovascular disease. Some adipokines have anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects (omentin, apelin, adiponectin). Others are pro-inflammatory with negative impact on cardiovascular function (leptin, visfatin, resistin, adipocyte fatty-acid-binding protein). In the first part, this article reviews the endocrine functions of adipose tissue in general, effects of the distribution and composition of fat tissue, and the roles of cortisol and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the development of the inflammatory state of addipose tissue. In the second part, the known cardiovascular effects of different adipokines and their clinical potential are discussed in detail.

• Klíčová slova
• adipocyte fatty-acid-binding protein, adipokines, adiponectin, adipose tissue, apelin, cardiovascular effects, heart failure, leptin, myocardial infarction, obesity, omentin, resistin, visfatin,
• MeSH
• adipokiny metabolismus   fyziologie   MeSH
• C-reaktivní protein fyziologie   MeSH
• distribuce tělesného tuku MeSH
• hydrokortison fyziologie   MeSH
• inzulinová rezistence fyziologie   MeSH
• kardiovaskulární nemoci etiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• obezita komplikace   MeSH
• panniculitis etiologie   MeSH
• proteiny vázající mastné kyseliny MeSH
• proteiny vázající retinol fyziologie   MeSH
• renin-angiotensin systém fyziologie   MeSH
• serpiny fyziologie   MeSH
• tuková tkáň chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adipokiny MeSH
• C-reaktivní protein MeSH
• hydrokortison MeSH
• proteiny vázající mastné kyseliny MeSH
• proteiny vázající retinol MeSH
• SERPINA12 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• serpiny MeSH