Decoding Apelin: Its Role in Metabolic Programming, Fetal Growth, and Gestational Complications
Nikolaos Loukas,
Dionysios Vrachnis,
Nikolaos Antonakopoulos,
Sofoklis Stavros,
Nikolaos Machairiotis,
Alexandros Fotiou,
Chryssi Christodoulaki,
Markos Lolos,
Georgios Maroudias,
Anastasios Potiris,
Petros Drakakis,
Nikolaos Vrachnis
Affiliations
Nikolaos Loukas
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tzaneio General Hospital, 185 36 Piraeus, Greece
Dionysios Vrachnis
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Nikolaos Antonakopoulos
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Patras, 265 04 Patras, Greece
Sofoklis Stavros
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Nikolaos Machairiotis
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Alexandros Fotiou
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Chryssi Christodoulaki
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Markos Lolos
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Georgios Maroudias
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Santorini General Hospital, 847 00 Thira, Greece
Anastasios Potiris
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Petros Drakakis
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Nikolaos Vrachnis
Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University General Hospital “ATTIKON”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Placental insufficiency and gestational diabetes, which are both serious pregnancy complications, are linked to altered fetal growth, whether restricted or excessive, and result in metabolic dysfunction, hypoxic/oxidative injury, and adverse perinatal outcomes. Although much research has been carried out in this field, the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms have not as yet been fully elucidated. Particularly because of the role it plays in cardiovascular performance, glucose metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress, the adipokine apelin was recently shown to be a potential regulator of fetal growth and metabolic programming. This review investigated the numerous biological actions of apelin in utero and aimed to shed more light on its role in fetal growth and metabolic programming. The expression of the apelinergic system in a number of tissues indicates its involvement in many physiological mechanisms, including angiogenesis, cell proliferation, energy metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Moreover, it appears that apelin has a major function in disorders such as diabetes mellitus, fetal growth abnormalities, fetal hypoxia, and preeclampsia. We herein describe in detail the regulatory effects exerted by the adipokine apelin on fetal growth and metabolic programming while stressing the necessity for additional research into the therapeutic potential of apelin and its mechanisms of action in pregnancy-related disorders.
