MHRC study reveals that apelin mediates the antidepressant effects of physical exercise

A study conducted by Dr Sonata YAU, Member of the Mental Health Research Centre (MHRC) and Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, revealed that apelin, a muscle-secreted peptide, is important for mediating the antidepressant effects of physical exercise.

Sarcopenia, a muscle ageing condition, is strongly correlated with geriatric depression, but the exact muscle-brain crosstalk is not well understood. Previous research has shown that apelin is linked to sarcopenia and is also associated with hippocampal neuroplasticity and antidepressant effects. Using a mouse model of chronic unpredictable stress, Dr Yau and her research team showed that stressed mice exhibited lower apelin expression levels in the hippocampus, which could be restored by a 4-week programme of physical running. Knockout of apelin specifically in skeletal muscles reduced the antidepressant effects of exercise, whereas overexpression of muscle apelin elicited antidepressant effects. This research shines a light on the potential role of apelin in mediating the crosstalk of the muscle-brain axis, and holds important implications for understanding stress-related disorders.