Apelin/APJ system: A bifunctional target for cardiac hypertrophy

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Biology
• Molecular Cardiology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• The apelin/APJ system, involving the ligand apelin and its receptor APJ, is implicated in cardiovascular diseases.
• The precise role of apelin/APJ in cardiac hypertrophy, a thickening of the heart muscle, is debated, with evidence suggesting both protective and detrimental effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the conflicting roles of the apelin/APJ system in cardiac hypertrophy.
• To explore the involvement of apelin/APJ in cardiovascular conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, myocarditis, and myocardial infarction.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies investigating the apelin/APJ system and cardiac hypertrophy.
• Analysis of experimental data on apelin's effects under various conditions (pathological and non-pathological).

Main Results:

• Apelin/APJ can alleviate cardiac hypertrophy induced by angiotensin II, oxidative stress, and exercise.
• Conversely, central and peripheral apelin administration, as well as in vitro studies, indicate apelin can induce cardiac hypertrophy.
• The dual role of apelin/APJ in cardiac hypertrophy necessitates further mechanistic investigation.

Conclusions:

• The apelin/APJ system exhibits complex and contradictory effects on cardiac hypertrophy.
• Further research should focus on the relationship between apelin/APJ and pathological cardiac hypertrophy in clinical settings.
• The apelin/APJ pathway presents a potential therapeutic target for managing cardiac hypertrophy.