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Apelin and its receptor APJ in human aortic valve stenosis

Tuomas Peltonen1, Juha Näpänkangas, Olli Vuolteenaho

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Oulu, Biocenter Oulu, Finland.

The Journal of Heart Valve Disease
|January 27, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Aortic valve stenosis shows increased apelin-APJ signaling, suggesting a new therapeutic target for calcified aortic valve disease by inhibiting key disease processes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Aortic valve stenosis (AS) shares characteristics with atherosclerosis.
  • The apelin-APJ system's role in AS is currently unknown.
  • Apelin-APJ signaling may oppose the angiotensin II-AT1-receptor pathway.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the apelin-APJ signaling pathway in aortic valve stenosis.
  • To compare expression of apelin, APJ, and angiotensin II receptors in normal and diseased aortic valves.

Main Methods:

  • Analyzed aortic valve tissue from patients with normal valves, aortic regurgitation (AR), AR with sclerosis, and AS.
  • Utilized reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for gene expression analysis.
  • Employed immunohistochemistry to determine protein localization.

Main Results:

  • Apelin and APJ receptor gene expression were significantly upregulated in stenotic valves.
  • APJ receptor mRNA levels were also higher in valves with AR and sclerosis.
  • AT2 receptor mRNA levels were significantly lower in stenotic valves, while AT1 receptor expression did not differ.

Conclusions:

  • Aortic valve stenosis is associated with increased apelin-APJ signaling.
  • This pathway represents a potential novel drug target for calcified aortic valve disease.
  • Targeting this pathway could suppress disease processes like chemotaxis, angiogenesis, and osteoblast activity.
Abstract

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