The relationship between apelin and carotid intima media thickness, and the presence of plaque in dialysis patients

Abstract

Background Apelin is a peptide that has important effects on the cardiovascular system due to its anti‐atherogenic properties and regulating blood pressure. There is not enough research evaluating the effects of apelin levels on the cardiovascular system in hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients concurrently. The aim of this study was to determine apelin levels in dialysis, and control groups and to investigate the relationship between apelin and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT). Materials and methods Thirty three HD patients, 35 PD patients, and 15 healthy individuals were included in the study. All laboratory data, N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP), IL‐6, and apelin‐13 levels were analyzed. To prevent interobserver errors in CIMT measurement, the analyses were performed by a single radiologist. Result CIMT, presence of plaque, apelin, NT‐proBNP, IL‐6, and C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels were higher in dialysis patients. There was a relationship between apelin and CIMT, and between apelin and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) in PD patients. Age, apelin, HDL, parathormone (PTH), glucose, and smoking were found to affect the presence of plaque in dialysis patients. Conclusion Apelin levels were high in dialysis patients. Especially in PD patients, there was a negative correlation between apelin and CIMT, and between apelin and HDL. Therefore, apelin may play a role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases in PD patients.

Elabela Attenuates the TGF-β1-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Peritoneal Mesothelial Cells in Patients Receiving Peritoneal Dialysis

“…On the contrary, the detection of serum APLN level in patients on HD and PD indicated that the level of APLN was higher than that in the normal population ( Büyükbakkal et al, 2015 ; Dogan et al, 2018 ). The latest detection of serum APLN levels in patients with PD also indicated that APLN levels in this set of patients were higher than those in the normal population ( Karaer Büberci et al, 2022 ). APLN is mainly catabolized by the angiotensin converting enzyme 2.…”

“…However, the relationship between APLN and inflammation, which is known to promote EMT ( Li et al, 2014 ), has been studied. Some scholars suggested that APLN can evaluate inflammation and prevent the occurrence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in patients undergoing both PD and HD ( Dogan et al, 2018 ; Trojanowicz et al, 2020 ; Karaer Büberci et al, 2022 ). However, some studies have also indicated that APLN induces the expression of inflammatory factors MCP-1, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells by activating the NF-kB/JNK signaling pathway ( Trojanowicz et al, 2020 ).…”