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A Novel Peptide Elabela is Associated with Hypertension-Related Subclinical Atherosclerosis

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Abstract

Introduction

Elabela is a newly identified peptide which, alongside apelin, acts as an endogenous ligand that activates the angiotensin receptor-like 1 receptor. Previous studies have shown the association of elabela with hypertension, but information about the role of elabela in hypertension-related subclinical atherosclerosis is scarce.

Aim

We aimed to determine the elabela levels in hypertensive patients and explore its association with subclinical atherosclerosis.

Methods

A total of 104 subjects with hypertension were included in the study. Elabela levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, by first extracting the peptide following the manufacturer's instructions. Subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed by measuring the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) using ultrasound.

Results

Compared to stage 1, elabela levels decreased in stage 2 hypertension (0.23 [0.13, 0.45] ng/ml vs. 0.14 [0.09, 0.23] ng/ml; P = 0.000), and in the group with increased carotid IMT compared to normal IMT (0.24 [0.13, 0.38] ng/ml vs. 0.15 [0.10, 0.23] ng/ml; P = 0.005). Additionally, a linear correlation analysis showed that elabela had a significant negative correlation with systolic blood pressure (r = − 0.340, P = 0.000) and carotid IMT (r = − 0.213; P = 0.030). In multivariate analysis, lower elabela levels were associated with a higher cardiovascular risk group in this study (OR 5.0, 95% CI 1.8–13.5, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated for the first time that circulating elabela declined in a higher stage of hypertension and hypertensive patients with increased carotid IMT, implicating that elabela may be involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension-associated subclinical atherosclerosis.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the help provided by the Natuna Regency Government and the Indonesian Medical Association Natuna branch in data collection. We would also like to show our deep appreciation to the technical and support staff in the Cardiovascular Research and Development Division of the National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita who provided valuable expertise in sample preparation, protein extraction, and elabela ELISA quantification.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita, Jakarta, Indonesia

    Hendrianus, Suko Adiarto, Radityo Prakoso, Isman Firdaus, Suci Indriani, Estu Rudiktyo, Bambang Widyantoro,  Taofan, Ade Meidian Ambari & Renan Sukmawan

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Correspondence to Suko Adiarto.

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Conflict of interest

All the authors declare no conflict of interest.

Disclosures

This study has been presented in the 16th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Indonesian Society of Hypertension and published as an abstract accordingly in the Journal of Hypertension Supplements May 2022—Volume 40—Issue Suppl 2—p e3.

Funding

This work was funded by the National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita, Jakarta, Indonesia (Grant no. HK.02.03/XX.4/0165/2020).

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the local IRB with protocol no. LB.02.01/VII/499/KEP081/2020.

Data Availability Statement

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the first author upon reasonable request.

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Hendrianus, Adiarto, S., Prakoso, R. et al. A Novel Peptide Elabela is Associated with Hypertension-Related Subclinical Atherosclerosis. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 30, 37–44 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-022-00554-1

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