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Elabela and Apelin actions in healthy and pathological pregnancies

Delphine Eberlé1, Lucie Marousez1, Sandy Hanssens2

  • 1Univ. Lille, EA4489 Environnement Périnatal et Santé, F-59000 Lille, France.

Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews
|March 27, 2019
PubMed

Insights

The elabela/apelin-APJ system is vital for placental development and fetal health. While elabela deficiency mimics preeclampsia in mice, clinical data on elabela in human preeclampsia is inconclusive, unlike elevated apelin levels.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Developmental biology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Placental development is crucial for fetal growth, and its dysfunction can cause pregnancy disorders like preeclampsia.
  • The elabela/apelin-APJ signaling pathway plays roles in cardiovascular and placental development.
  • Understanding this system's role in fetoplacental homeostasis is key for managing pregnancy complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the roles of elabela, apelin, and their receptor APJ in the fetoplacental unit.
  • To explore the involvement of the elabela/apelin-APJ system in pathological pregnancies, including preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on elabela, apelin, and APJ in animal models and human pregnancies.
  • Analysis of findings from animal models regarding elabela and apelin functions in development and homeostasis.
  • Overview of clinical investigations into elabela and apelin levels in preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus.

Main Results:

  • Elabela is essential for early embryonic cardiovascular and placental development in animal models.
  • Apelin influences fetal angiogenesis and energy balance during mid/late gestation in animal models.
  • Clinical studies show no difference in elabela levels in preeclampsia, but elevated apelin levels are observed.

Conclusions:

  • The elabela/apelin-APJ system is critical for fetoplacental development, primarily demonstrated in animal models.
  • Elabela's role in human preeclampsia is uncertain, despite mouse model data.
  • Apelin may have potential as a biomarker for preeclampsia, requiring further investigation.

Keywords:
ApelinElabelaFetusGestational diabetesPlacentaPreeclampsia

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