Description
Apelin-13isanendogenouspeptidethatexhibitsneuroprotectiveandpro-angiogenicactivities.Apelin-13bindsapelinreceptors(APJreceptors)thatheterodimerizewithbradykininreceptors;uponbinding,thiscomplexsignalsforincreasesinphosphorylationofeNOS,activationofPKC,andcellularproliferation.Apelin-13isalsoinvolvedintheregulationofwaterbalance,foodintake,nociception,andcardiovascularresponses.Invivoandinvitro,apelin-13increasesmyocardialglucoseuptakeandGLUT4membranetranslocationinanAMPK-dependentmanner.Inanimalmodelsofischemia/reperfusion,apelin-13decreasesneurologicaldeficits,infarctvolume,andbrainedema,andalsodownregulatesexpressionofBaxandcaspase3throughactivationofthePI3K/Aktsignalingpathway.Additionally,apelin-13promotesproliferation,migration,andtubeformationinmyocardialmicrovascularendothelialcells.