Lu Liqun, Wu Di, Li Lanfang, Chen Linxi
Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Learning Key Laboratory for Pharmacoproteomics, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Learning Key Laboratory for Pharmacoproteomics, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
Int J Cardiol. 2017 Mar 1;230:164-170. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.11.215. Epub 2016 Nov 9.
Apelin acts as the endogenous ligand of G protein coupled receptors APJ. The apelin/APJ system is responsible for the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, apelin/APJ has been considered to play an important role in cardiac hypertrophy, but whether that role is beneficial or aggravating remains controversial. Apelin/APJ alleviates cardiac hypertrophy which is triggered by angiotensin II, oxidative stress and exercise. However, central administration of apelin induces cardiac hypertrophy. Peripheral administration of apelin also promotes the development of cardiac hypertrophy under non-pathological conditions. Furthermore, our laboratory discovers that apelin/APJ is able to induce hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes in vitro. The exact mechanism of apelin/APJ's dual effects in cardiac hypertrophy requires further study. In this paper, we review the controversies associated with apelin/APJ in cardiac hypertrophy and we elaborate the role of apelin/APJ in cardiac hypertrophy related-diseases including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, myocarditis and myocardial infarction. We conclude that further studies should emphasize more about the relationship between apelin/APJ and pathological hypertrophy especially in clinical patients. Moreover, apelin/APJ can be a promising therapeutic target for cardiac hypertrophy.
Apelin作为G蛋白偶联受体APJ的内源性配体。Apelin/APJ系统与心血管疾病的发生发展有关。近年来，Apelin/APJ被认为在心肌肥厚中起重要作用，但其作用是有益还是加重仍存在争议。Apelin/APJ可减轻由血管紧张素II、氧化应激和运动引发的心肌肥厚。然而，中枢给予Apelin可诱导心肌肥厚。外周给予Apelin在非病理条件下也会促进心肌肥厚的发展。此外，我们实验室发现Apelin/APJ在体外能够诱导心肌细胞肥大。Apelin/APJ在心肌肥厚中双重作用的确切机制需要进一步研究。在本文中，我们综述了与Apelin/APJ在心肌肥厚中相关的争议，并阐述了Apelin/APJ在与心肌肥厚相关疾病（包括肥胖、糖尿病、高血压、心肌炎和心肌梗死）中的作用。我们得出结论，进一步的研究应更多地关注Apelin/APJ与病理性肥厚之间的关系，尤其是在临床患者中。此外，Apelin/APJ可能是心肌肥厚一个有前景的治疗靶点。
