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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Studying Adipose Endothelial Cell/Adipocyte Cross-Talk in Human Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue
Published on: April 5, 2024
Apelin/APJ signaling system: a potential link between adipose tissue and endothelial angiogenic processes
O Kunduzova1, N Alet, N Delesque-Touchard
1Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U858, Toulouse, Cedex 4, France. oxana.koundouzova@toulouse.inserm.fr
Apelin signaling is crucial for new blood vessel formation in adipose tissue. This study shows apelin, stimulated by hypoxia, promotes endothelial cell growth and vascular network development in fat grafts.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Vascular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Adipose tissue secretes factors influencing angiogenesis.
- Apelin is a bioactive peptide and the ligand for the G protein-coupled receptor APJ.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the role of apelin/APJ signaling in endothelial cell angiogenesis.
- Determine the function of apelin in adipose tissue vascularization in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Treated human endothelial cells with apelin and used siRNA to block APJ.
- Utilized a mouse model of white adipose tissue transplantation to assess angiogenesis.
- Measured apelin mRNA, hypoxia markers, and hemoglobin content in transplanted adipose tissue grafts.
Main Results:
- Apelin dose-dependently enhanced endothelial cell migration, proliferation, and capillary-like structure formation.
- Apelin-induced effects were mediated through APJ receptor activation.
- Adipose tissue transplantation induced hypoxia, upregulating apelin and promoting graft revascularization.
- Apelin knockdown via siRNA significantly reduced vascularization in adipose tissue grafts.
Conclusions:
- Apelin/APJ signaling is critical for functional vascular network development in adipose tissue.
- Hypoxia upregulates adipocyte-derived apelin, linking metabolic stress to angiogenesis.
- Findings offer insights into adipose tissue-endothelial interactions and potential therapeutic targets for modulating angiogenesis.
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