Research advances of Elabela in kidney disease

Elabela is a new endogenous peptidic ligand for G protein-coupled receptor -APJ with a strong sequence homology with angiotensin type 1 receptor(AT1). Conjugating with its receptor Apelin-angiotensin receptor-like(APJ) to exert a series of biological effects, Elabela is predominantly expressed in adult kidneys, pluripotent stem cells and vascular endothelial cells. It plays an important role in promoting angiogenesis, lowering blood pressure and regulating fluid homeostasis and cardiovascular system. Recent studies have demonstrated that Elabela is involved in the progression of kidney disease. Therefore this review provided an updating of current researches on the role of Elabela in acute and chronic kidney diseases including renal ischemia/reperfusion injury, sepsis-related kidney injury, hypertensive nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy and kidney cancer. It may offer a new therapeutic approach of kidney diseases.