UNASSIGNED: The G protein-coupled @entity40737 regulates important processes of the cardiovascular homeostasis, including cardiac development, cardiac contractility, and vascular tone. Most recently, a novel endogenous peptide ligand for the @entity40737 was identified in @entity3392 , and it was named apela/elabela/toddler. The peptide was originally considered as an exclusively embryonic regulator, and so far its function in the adult organism remains elusive. We show here that apela is predominantly expressed in the non-cardiomyocyte fraction in the adult rodent heart. We also provide evidence that apela binds to apelin receptors in the heart. Using isolated adult @entity35 hearts, we demonstrate, that just like the fellow receptor agonist apelin, apela increases cardiac contractility and induces coronary vasodilation already in the nanomolar level. The inotropic effect, as revealed by Western blot analysis, is accompanied by a significant increase in @entity8837 phosphorylation. Pharmacological inhibition of @entity8837 activation markedly attenuates the apela-induced inotropy. Analysis of samples from infarcted @entity19 hearts showed that expression of both apela and @entity40737 is induced in failing @entity19 hearts and correlate with left ventricular ejection fraction. Hence, we conclude that apela is present in the adult heart, is upregulated in post-infarction @entity299 , and increases cardiac contractility in an @entity8837 -dependent manner.

Characterization of apela, a novel endogenous ligand of XXXX , in the adult heart.

@entity19 :: ('10090', 'Species') :: ['mouse'] @entity299 :: ('MESH:D006331', 'Disease') :: ['cardiac remodeling'] @entity35 :: ('10116', 'Species') :: ['rat'] @entity40737 :: ('23796(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['apelin receptor'] @entity3392 :: ('7955', 'Species') :: ['zebrafish'] @entity8837 :: ('26417;26413', 'Gene') :: ['extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2', 'ERK1/2']
@entity40737 :: (23796(Tax:10090),Gene) :: ['apelin receptor']
