Weekly issue 2026-W41 ·
Apelin Inhibits Cyst Growth and Improves Kidney Function in Mice with Polycystic Kidney Disease
Plain language
Apelin is a natural hormone involved in blood pressure and heart function. Children and young adults with ADPKD had lower apelin levels than healthy peers, even with normal kidney function. Giving apelin to mice with PKD shrank their kidneys and cysts and improved kidney function, similar to a tolvaptan-like drug but without causing heavy urination. This is early animal research; no apelin-based treatment exists for people yet.
Clinical note
Translational study. Circulating apelin peptides reduced in young ADPKD patients with normal eGFR. Apelin and the small-molecule agonist azelaprag inhibited 3D cyst growth of primary human ADPKD cells. In Pkd1RC/RC;Pkd2+/− mice (27 days), apelin and mozavaptan lowered kidney weight, cystic index, BUN and renal cAMP; azelaprag did not. Apelin down-regulated Lcn2, Postn and Havcr1 and, unlike mozavaptan, caused no aquaresis. Proposes the apelin receptor as a target without aquaretic burden — short-duration preclinical data only.
Question for your next visit
If tolvaptan’s side effects are hard for me, are there clinical trials of other approaches that I could be considered for?