Med. Weter. 71 (10), 599-601, 2015
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| Puzio I., Tymicki G., Pawłowska M., Puzio A., Śleboda W. |
| Role of adropin in cardiovascular physiology |
| Adropin is a new regulatory peptide participating in the maintenance of energy homeostasis, metabolic adaptation, and modulation to insulin sensitivity. Low serum levels of adropin are associated with obesity and insulin resistance, which are related to cardiovascular incidents. Thus, it can be hypothesized that adropin may also exert direct effects on blood vessels. Obtained results indicate that, apart from its metabolic effects, adropin exerts angiogenic effects. It stimulates the proliferation, migration, and capillary-tube formation of endothelial cells, and improves endothelial barrier functions. In endothelial cells, adropin markedly elevates nitric oxide release and eNOS bioactivity through VEGFR-PI3K-Akt and VEGFR-PI3K-ERK1/2 pathways. Since endothelial dysfunction plays a role in different cardiovascular disorders, e.g. atherosclerosis, acute myocardial infarction, and cardiac syndrome X, adropin deficiency might be involved in the pathogenesis of these diseases. Therefore adropin may serve as a biomarker and therapeutic candidate for prevention of the above-mentioned conditions. However, further studies are required to shed more light on this problem, as plasma adropin levels were significantly increased depending on the severity of heart failure. |
| Key words: adropin, nitric oxide, eNOS, endothelium |