Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran; Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Paramedical Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Neuropeptides. 2018 Aug;70:76-86. doi: 10.1016/j.npep.2018.05.008. Epub 2018 May 23.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with high outbreak rates. It is estimated that about 35 million individuals around the world suffered from dementia in 2010. AD is expected to increase twofold every 20 years and, by 2030, approximately 65 million people could suffer from this illness. AD is determined clinically by a cognitive impairment and pathologically by the production of amyloid beta (Aβ), neurofibrillary tangles, toxic free radicals and inflammatory mediators in the brain. There is still no treatment to cure or even alter the progressive course of this disease; however, many new therapies are being investigated and are at various stages of clinical trials. Neuropeptides are signaling molecules used by neurons to communicate with each other. One of the important neuropeptides is apelin, which can be isolated from bovine stomach. Apelin and its receptor APJ have been shown to broadly disseminate in the neurons and oligodendrocytes of the central nervous system. Apelin-13 is known to be the predominant neuropeptide in neuroprotection. It is involved in the processes of memory and learning as well as the prevention of neuronal damage. Studies have shown that apelin can directly or indirectly prevent the production of Aβ and reduce its amounts by increasing its degradation. Phosphorylation and accumulation of tau protein may also be inhibited by apelin. Apelin is considered as an anti-inflammatory agent by preventing the production of inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor alpha. It has been shown that in vivo and in vitro anti-apoptotic effects of apelin have prevented the death of neurons. In this review, we describe the various functions of apelin associated with AD and present an integrated overview of recent findings that, in general, recommend apelin as a promising therapeutic agent in the treatment of this ailment.
阿尔茨海默病（AD）是一种进行性神经退行性疾病，发病率很高。据估计，2010 年全球约有 3500 万人患有痴呆症。预计每 20 年 AD 发病率将增加一倍，到 2030 年，大约有 6500 万人可能患有这种疾病。AD 在临床上通过认知障碍来确定，在病理上通过大脑中淀粉样β（Aβ）、神经纤维缠结、有毒自由基和炎症介质的产生来确定。目前还没有治愈甚至改变这种疾病进行性进程的治疗方法；然而，许多新的治疗方法正在研究中，并处于临床试验的不同阶段。神经肽是神经元之间相互通信使用的信号分子。其中一种重要的神经肽是apelin，它可以从牛胃中分离出来。apelin 和它的受体 APJ 已经被证明在中枢神经系统的神经元和少突胶质细胞中广泛传播。apelin-13 是已知的主要神经保护肽。它参与记忆和学习过程以及神经元损伤的预防。研究表明，apelin 可以直接或间接防止 Aβ的产生，并通过增加其降解来减少其数量。apelin 还可以抑制tau 蛋白的磷酸化和积累。apelin 被认为是一种抗炎剂，通过防止白细胞介素-1β和肿瘤坏死因子α等炎症介质的产生。已经表明，apelin 的体内和体外抗凋亡作用可以防止神经元死亡。在这篇综述中，我们描述了与 AD 相关的 apelin 的各种功能，并提出了对最近发现的综合概述，总体而言，推荐 apelin 作为治疗这种疾病的有前途的治疗剂。
