Wang C, Du JF, Wu F, Wang HC. Apelin decreases the SR Ca content but enhances the amplitude of [Ca ]i transient and contractions during twitches in isolated rat cardiac myocytes. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 294: H2540–H2546, 2008. First published April 18, 2008; doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00046.2008.—Apelin has been reported to have a positive inotropic action in the isolated rat heart. However, ...

Apelin-13 causes vasoconstriction by acting directly on APJ receptors in vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells; however, the ionic mechanisms underlying this action at the cellular level remain unclear. Large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BKCa) channels in VSM cells are critical regulators of membrane potential and vascular tone. In the present study, we examined the effect of apelin-13 on BK...

Apelin is a peptide hormone with cardiovascular and glucose homeostasis properties, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is complicated by cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities. Plasma apelin has not been previously assessed in OSA. We investigated the response of plasma apelin to a 2-h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the effect of 3 months compliant continuous positive airway pre...

OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, THERE has been considerable interest in the elucidation of factors that mediate angiogenesis. These efforts led to the identification of factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1 and -2), and angiopoietins, to name a few. Subsequent detailed investigations have revealed that finely tuned and precisely coor...

Introduction: Remote ischemic conditioning upregulates endogenous protective pathways in response to ischemia-reperfusion injury. This study tested the hypothesis that limb remote per-conditioning (RIPerC) exerts cardioprotective effects via renin-angiotensin system (RAS)/inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)/apelin pathway. Methods: Renal injury (I/R) was induced by bilateral occlusion of ren...

AIM To evaluate the relationship of apelin and nitric oxide (NO) to endothelial dysfunction in type 1 diabetics. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty two type 1 diabetics and 30 healthy age and sex matched controls were included. Blood samples for apelin, NO, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and lipid profile were collected. Albumin/creatinine ratio was assessed in urine. Flow mediated dilatation (FMD)...

BACKGROUND Apelin is a mitogenic peptide; it has functions in vessel formation and cell proliferation. In this study we aimed to evaluate the serum and tissue levels and local expression pattern of apelin in eutopic and ectopic endometrium from patients with and without endometriosis and to compare the proliferative and secretory phase differences. METHODS Thirty women with endometriosis and ...

AIMS To evaluate the association of different apelin levels with cardiovascular mortality, hospitalization, renal function, and cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetic patients with mild to moderate CKD. METHODS An observational, prospective study involving 150 patients divided into groups according to baseline apelin levels: 1 ≤ 98 pg/mL, 2 = 98-328 pg/mL, and 3 ≥ 329 pg/mL. Baseline ...

Background: Apelin is an endogenous peptide with positive inotropic property secreted by the heart besides other tissues. Plasma apelin levels are altered in chronic heart failure with left ventricular dysfunction. However, the effect of left atrial hemodynamic overload on plasma apelin levels in mitral stenosis (MS) is unknown. In this observational study, we estimated plasma apelin level in M...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Levels of serum apelin (s-apelin), an endogenous ligand for angiotensin-like receptor 1, have been shown to be related to hepatic fibrosis and hemodynamic abnormalities in preclinical studies. We investigated the clinical implications of s-apelin as a noninvasive prognostic biomarker for chronic liver disease (CLD). METHODS From January 2009 to December 2012, 215 CLD patients ...