Article
Immunology
Farman Ali, Aling Shen, Waqar Islam, Muhammad Zubair Saleem, Ragunath Muthu, Qiurong Xie, Meizhu Wu, Ying Cheng, Jiangfeng Chu, Wei Lin, Jun Peng
Summary: Hypertension is controlled through the regulation of miRNAs, particularly their interaction with the ACE2/Apelin signaling pathway. Research on miRNAs may lead to innovative treatment strategies for hypertension.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Khushwant S. S. Bhullar, Hongbing Fan, Manal A. A. Nael, Khaled M. M. Elokely, Jianping Wu
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the role of G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) in ACE2 activation by the vasodilatory peptide IRW. The results showed that IRW treatment increased the levels of GPR30, GEF activity, and GNB1 levels in cells. These findings were confirmed in hypertensive animal studies, where the levels of GPR30 in the aorta were increased. Blockade of GPR30 abolished the ACE2-activating ability of IRW in cells. Overall, this study demonstrated that IRW activates ACE2 via GPR30.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
J. Park, M-Y Park, Y. Kim, Y. Jun, U. Lee, C-M Oh
Summary: This study found that [Pyr1]-Apelin-13 can protect cells from viral infection by inhibiting the binding of ACE2 to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. It also regulates inflammatory responses by inhibiting the nuclear factor kappa B pathway. These findings suggest that Apelin may be a potential therapeutic candidate against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
QJM-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yunlu Jiang, Maocai Yan, Chunmei Wang, Qinqin Wang, Xiaoyu Chen, Rumin Zhang, Lei Wan, Bingyuan Ji, Bo Dong, Huiyun Wang, Jing Chen
Summary: Research showed that different Apelin and Elabela ligands activated APJ resulted in distinct G protein-dependent and beta-arrestin-dependent signaling pathways. Elabela-32 exhibited a >1000-fold bias towards the beta-arrestin-dependent pathway, while Apelin-17 was biased towards the beta-arrestin-dependent signaling. Eabela-21 and pGlu(1)-Apelin-13 showed very different activities on the G protein-dependent pathway.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Jiawei Song, Jianqiong Tang, Zhenzhou Zhang, Ying Liu, Jiuchang Zhong
Summary: The elabela/apelin-APJ axis plays a crucial role in regulating cardiovascular function in hypertension and has diverse effects on vascular tone. Understanding the elabela/apelin-APJ axis can help in the development of effective interventions for hypertension.
CHINESE MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xue Mei, Blair Mell, Sachin Aryal, Ishan Manandhar, Ramakumar Tummala, Jasenka Zubcevic, Khanh Lai, Tao Yang, Qiuhong Li, Beng San Yeoh, Bina Joe
Summary: Engineered gut microbiota, delivered by genetically modified Lactobacillus paracasei, showed promising results in regulating blood pressure in a rat model of hypertension. The effects were sex-specific, with significant blood pressure reduction observed in female rats but not male rats. The study highlights the potential of targeting the colon with engineered bacteria as a new approach for developing antihypertensive therapeutics.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jing Chen, Zhengwen Wang, Rumin Zhang, Haiyan Yin, Peixiang Wang, Chunmei Wang, Yunlu Jiang
Summary: The study reveals the formation of a heterodimer between APJ and ORL1, which play roles in signaling and physiological effects. The APJ-ORL1 dimer exhibits a biased signaling pathway that is G protein-dependent. The structural interface of the dimer switches from TM1/TM2 to TM5 upon activation.
Article
Cell Biology
Thankamani Karthika, Jeswin Joseph, V. R. Akshay Das, Niranjana Nair, Packirisamy Charulekha, Melvin Daniel Roji, V. Stalin Raj
Summary: The cytoplasmic tail of ACE2 is not essential for the entry of SARS-CoV-1 and -2, suggesting that their entry may be mediated via known or unknown host factors. Inhibition of pseudotyped SARS-CoVs entry into cells was observed when treated with a dynamin inhibitor and an endosomal acidification inhibitor. Antibodies against SARS-CoV and soluble ACE2 were unable to enter cells expressing wtACE2 and increment cytACE2.
Editorial Material
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Natalia M. Noto, Yazmin M. Restrepo, Robert C. Speth
Summary: A new transgenic rat model has been developed to overexpress a fusion protein producing Ang-(1-7), aiming to address the rapid metabolic inactivation issue. This significant technical feat could lead to major advances in the field.
Article
Cell Biology
Hui Wang, Linjing Cong, Xianghong Yin, Nan Zhang, Min Zhu, Tingting Sun, Junming Fan, Feng Xue, Xiaofang Fan, Yongsheng Gong
Summary: Activation of the Apelin-APJ axis can alleviate LPS-induced pulmonary fibrosis by activating ACE2, and ubiquitination may contribute to pulmonary fibrosis.
CELLULAR SIGNALLING
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Rabiah Fardoos, Osaretin E. Asowata, Nicholas Herbert, Sarah K. Nyquist, Yenzekile Zungu, Alveera Singh, Abigail Ngoepe, Ian M. Mbano, Ntombifuthi Mthabela, Dirhona Ramjit, Farina Karim, Warren Kuhn, Fusi G. Madela, Vukani T. Manzini, Frank Anderson, Bonnie Berger, Tune H. Pers, Alex K. Shalek, Alasdair Leslie, Henrik N. Kloverpris
Summary: The study found that HIV infection affects gut homeostasis, leading to reduced expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptors in intestinal enterocytes but does not prevent infection. Although antiviral response genes are upregulated in HIV patients, it does not protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Review
Immunology
Pia V. Sodhi, Francoise Sidime, David D. Tarazona, Faviola Valdivia, Kelly S. Levano
Summary: Since its identification as the functional receptor for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, ACE2 has been extensively studied to understand COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. ACE2, a widely expressed protein, plays a major regulatory role in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone System (RAAS). The variants of ACE2 may be crucial in determining an individual's susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease outcome.
Article
Biology
Jialing Qi, Annegret Rittershaus, Rashmi Priya, Shivani Mansingh, Didier Y. R. Stainier, Christian S. M. Helker, Victoria L. Bautch
Summary: This study reveals that endocardial cells interact with cardiomyocytes through dynamic membrane protrusions, which is essential for trabeculation. Loss of Apelin signaling, a peptide derived from cardiomyocytes, or its receptor in endocardial cells leads to reduced endocardial sprouting and hypotrabeculation.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jae-Ho Park, Changwon Kho
Summary: Calcium signaling in the heart is crucial for muscle contraction and electrical signals, with impairment of Ca2+ handling proteins being a key hallmark of heart disease. The discovery of miRNAs as gene regulators has expanded our understanding of cardiac Ca2+ cycling, and there has been significant exploration of their involvement in heart diseases. This review aims to summarize Ca2+ signaling and Ca2+-related miRNAs in cardiac pathologies, as well as discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting these miRNAs for heart disease treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carline Chaves-Almagro, Johanna Auriau, Alizee Dortignac, Pascal Clerc, Hubert Lulka, Simon Deleruyelle, Fabrice Projetti, Jessica Nakhle, Audrey Frances, Judit Berta, Veronique Gigoux, Daniel Fourmy, Marlene Dufresne, Anne Gomez-Brouchet, Julie Guillermet-Guibert, Pierre Cordelier, Bernard Knibiehler, Ralf Jockers, Philippe Valet, Yves Audigier, Bernard Masri
Summary: This study investigated the expression and protumoral function of apelin and its receptor APJ in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma. It was found that apelin and APJ were co-expressed by tumor cells in the invasive stage, and apelin promoted cancer cell proliferation, migration, and glucose uptake. Blocking the apelin receptor reduced cancer cell proliferation and pancreatic tumor burden.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)