Apelin-13 Attenuates Ischemic Changes in A Rat Model of Myocardial Infarction via Increasing Circulating Angiogenic Factors

Physiology department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt

^*Corresponding Author

Mona A. Said

Physiology department, Faculty of Medicine

Benha University

Egypt

Email: dr.monaabdelazim@gmail.com

Mobile: 002 01117060320

Abstract

Ischemic heart disease is a global health concern in the present day with limited therapies. Extensive efforts have been devoted to find therapies that promote angiogenesis and enhance perfusion to the ischemic myocardium. The aim of the present study was to look into the effects of apelin-13 on circulating angiogenic factors after myocardial infarction in rats. Forty adult male rats were randomly assigned into four equal groups (n=10); Sham operated, Sham operated + Apelin 13, myocardial infarction (MI) group and MI + Apelin 13. Infarction size, serum level of cardiac enzymes and serum levels of angiogenic factors; insulin like growth factor one (IGF-1), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were assessed 28 days after apelin administration. Compared to sham operated group, induction of myocardial infarction resulted in significant increase in infarction size from zero to 45.85 ± 2.94, cardiac biomarkers (CK-MB and LDH) from 3.19 ± 0.62 ng/ml and 24.87 ± 3.48 IU/L to 27.75 ± 1.24 ng/ml and 98.82 ± 3.24 IU/L respectively (P < 0.05) as well as serum angiogenic factors (IGF-1, VEGF and TGF-β levels) as they were increased from 3.44 ± 0.46 ng/ml, 6.33 ± 0.88 ng/ml and 145.09 ± 4.80 pg/ml to 9.86 ± 0.92, 12.67 ± 0.77 and 338.77 ± 9.56 respectively. Apelin-13 treatment induced a significant increase in serum angiogenic factors and reduced the ischemic changes in the myocardium when compared to the MI group. These results indicated that apelin treatment protects against myocardial infarction via increased circulating angiogenic growth factors therefore, apelin may be a new therapeutic target in myocardial infarction.

Keywords:Apelin-13, Myocardial infarction, Angiogenesis

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