APJ/apelin: A promising target for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity

Drug Discov Today. 2022 Aug;27(8):2342-2352. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.05.004. Epub 2022 May 11.

Abstract

Retinopathy of prematurity is a noticeable retinal abnormality causing common blindness in children. An uncontrolled retinal vasculature in retinopathy of prematurity inflicts vision loss in numerous children despite the accessibility to a wide range of clinical treatments prescribed for retinopathy of prematurity. Apelin/APJ [class A (rhodopsin-like) G-protein-coupled receptor] signaling regulates retinopathy of prematurity augmented with uncontrolled angiogenesis. Antagonists targeting pathological apelin/APJ-signaling-induced angiogenesis could be effective in attenuating retinopathy of prematurity. The therapeutic proficiency of antagonists in diverse modalities: peptides, bioactive molecules and antibodies, targeting apelin peptides or the APJ receptor is discussed in this review. We hypothesize the antagonists could effectively attenuate the retinal vasculature triggered by apelin/APJ signaling activation governing vision impairment in young children.

Keywords: Antagonist; Apelin/APJ signaling; Retinal vasculature; Retinopathy of prematurity.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apelin / therapeutic use
  • Apelin Receptors
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Retinopathy of Prematurity* / drug therapy

Substances

  • Apelin
  • Apelin Receptors
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled