Progression of ischemic retinal diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, is closely associated with pathological retinal angiogenesis mainly induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Anti-angiogenic therapy using anti-VEGF antibodies is effective in treating diabetic retinopathy, even though its efficacy is not long-lasting. Since many factors are involved in angiogenesis, it is reas...

Introduction Apelin-13 (APL-13) is a member of an endogenous peptide’s family (APLs) with powerful inotropic and cardioprotective properties. APLs bind to the dedicated receptor APJ-R, a member of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily, all being widely expressed in the cardiovascular system. We have already shown that APL-13 infusion, was protective against LPS-induced myocardial dysfuncti...

We have recently identified a new G protein-coupled receptor, msr/apj, whose transcripts are detected in the endothelium of the primary blood vessels and the newly forming heart (Mech. Dev. 1999;84:199). Its expression during formation of the embryonic vasculature incited us to investigate whether expression of the receptor also increased during the formation of retinal vessels, which occurs po...

Pancreatitis is classified into acute pancreatitis (AP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP). Apelin, a small regulatory peptide, is the endogenous ligand for the APJ receptor. Apelin and APJ are expressed in the pancreas. The aims of this study were to examine whether apelin influences the inflammatory and fibrosis responses to pancreatitis in mice and to identify mechanisms behind apelin's activitie...

34 35 Apelin, an endogenous ligand for APJ receptor, has been reported to be upregulated in 36 paraventricular nucleus (PVN) following stress. Central apelin is known to stimulate release 37 of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) via APJ receptor. We tested the hypothesis that stress38 induced gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction is mediated by central apelin. We also assessed the 39 effect of ex...

We investigated the endogenous production of apelin and the cardiac and pulmonary effects of its chronic administration in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH). Male Wistar rats were injected with MCT (60 mg/kg sc) or vehicle (day 0). One week later, these animals were randomly treated during 17 days with pyroglutamylated apelin-13 (Pyr-AP13; 200 microg*kg(-1)*day(-1) ip) or ...

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterized by the vascular remodeling of the pulmonary arterioles, including formation of plexiform and concentric lesions comprised of proliferative vascular cells. Clinically, PAH leads to increased pulmonary arterial pressure and subsequent right ventricular failure. Existing therapies have improved the outcome but mortality s...

Pericytes are a population of cells that participate in normal vessel architecture and regulate permeability. Apelin, as the endogenous ligand of G protein-coupled receptor APJ, participates in a number of physiological and pathological processes. To date, the effect of apelin on pericyte is not clear. Our study aimed to investigate the potential protection mechanisms of apelin, with regard to ...

Apelin is a recently-isolated bioactive peptide from bovine gastric extract. The gene encodes a protein of 77 amino acids, which can generate two active polypeptides, long (42-77) and short (65-77). Both peptides ligate and activate APJ, a G protein-coupled receptor expressed in the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Although an essential role for the apelin/APJ system in blood vessel ...