{
  "abstract": "Background: Though apelin is involved in cardiovascular, metabolic, and homeostasis disorders, its role in alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of apelin in promoting hepatic inflammation in ALD.\n\nMethods: RAW 264.7 macrophages and a chronic alcohol-fed C57BL/6 mouse model were used. Apelin activated ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and PD98059 pretreatment attenuated apelin-induced MCP-1 and PCNA expression. Inflammatory and proliferative markers (MCP-1, IL-6, PCNA) were assessed by qRT-PCR and western blot. ERK signaling was evaluated using the inhibitor PD98059. Liver pathology was examined by H&E and Oil Red O staining.\n\nResults: Alcohol upregulated apelin expression in RAW 264.7 cells. Apelin-13 increased MCP-1 and PCNA expression in time- and dose-dependent manners. Apelin overexpression enhanced, while siRNA knockdown reduced, inflammatory and proliferative gene expression. Apelin activated ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and PD98059 pretreatment attenuated apelin-induced MCP-1 and PCNA expression. In vivo , apelin overexpression exacerbated steatosis, ballooning degeneration, and inflammatory infiltration, with elevated MCP-1, IL-6, and PCNA levels.\n\nConclusion: Apelin aggravates inflammatory responses and hepatic steatosis in ALD via the ERK signaling pathway, suggesting that the apelin/APJ/p-ERK/inflammation axis may represent a novel therapeutic target for ALD.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Kaifeng Key Laboratory for Infectious Diseases and Biosafety , ,"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Hongyan Bian"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Aochun Wu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jinlin Tang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zhiwei Wang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jiayi Song"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yi Meng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xiao Xu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xinrui Lv"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1zy430fjgfgd2.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fphar.2026.1912482",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13661315/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "1zy430fjgfgd2",
  "issns": [
    "1663-9812"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13661315",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2736|Apelin-related biomedical research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214933082",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13661315/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13661315",
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-30",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1zy430fjgfgd2.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:20Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13661315",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13661315"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:06Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fphar.2026.1912482",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1912482/full"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2736|Apelin-related biomedical research",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Apelin aggravates inflammatory response and hepatic steatosis in alcohol-associated liver disease via ERK signaling pathway",
  "title_text": "Apelin aggravates inflammatory response and hepatic steatosis in alcohol-associated liver disease via ERK signaling pathway",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:06Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1zy430fjgfgd2",
  "venue": "Frontiers in pharmacology",
  "versions": []
}