Apelin Receptor (APLNR)

Apelin receptor is early expressed during the embryonic formation of the heart, where it regulates the migration of cell progenitors fated to differentiate in the contractile cells, the cardiomyocytes. Its expression is also detected in the cardiomyocytes of the adult where apelin behaves as one of the most potent stimulator of cardiac contractility.

Apelin receptor is expressed in several cell types of the gastro-intestinal tract : stomach enterochromaffine-like cells; unknown cells of endocrine pancreas, colon epithelial cells. In stomach, activation of receptors on enterochromaffine-like cells by apelin secreted by parietal cells can inhibit histamine release by enterochromaffine-like cells, which in turn decreases acid secretion by parietal cells.