Apelin induces microglia polarization to pro-inflammatory state

Aims: Patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy show an increased level of apelin in their vitreous, which is the endogenous ligand for the G protein-coupled receptor APJ. Microglial activation is involved in the development of diabetic retinopathy. Thereby their different functional properties are dependent on the state of polarization. However to what extend apelin might be involved in this process of microglial polarization and by which mechanism the apelin-APJ signaling is mediated in the cell remain unclear. Methods: Primary murine microglial BV2 cells were cultured and incubated with recombinant ape…