Abstract
Urocortin comprises a group of endogenously produced peptide hormones that belong to the corticotropinreleasing factor (CRF) family with promising future as potential drugs for the treatment of heart disease. Members of the urocortin family are known to act as potent regulators of cardiac and vascular functions, through the activation of the CRF receptors that are highly expressed in heart and peripheral tissues. Urocortin exhibits potent vasodilatory effects in arteries from different species. These effects have been related to its capability to regulate the intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) by different molecular mechanism. Beside, urocortin increases heart contractility and evokes positive inotropic and lusitropic effects by mechanisms involving different kinases signalling pathways. Urocortin peptides have also the ability to protect the heart from ischemia and reperfusion injuries by their improvement of post-ischemic cardiac performances, which include the recovery of heart contraction, the prevention from intracellular Ca2+ overload and the reduction of cardiac cell death. Furthermore, heart protection by urocortin involves the regulation of the transcription of specific genes acting to minimize mitochondrial damage, cell death, and oxidative stress. This review summarizes some of the recent findings related to the molecular mechanism underlying the role of urocortin in both vascular and cardiac function.
Keywords: Urocortin, vascular smooth muscle relaxation, positive inotropism, cardioprotection.
Current Vascular Pharmacology
Title:New Insights into the Mechanisms Underlying Vascular and Cardiac Effects of Urocortin
Volume: 11 Issue: 4
Author(s): Ignacio Diaz and Tarik Smani
Affiliation:
Keywords: Urocortin, vascular smooth muscle relaxation, positive inotropism, cardioprotection.
Abstract: Urocortin comprises a group of endogenously produced peptide hormones that belong to the corticotropinreleasing factor (CRF) family with promising future as potential drugs for the treatment of heart disease. Members of the urocortin family are known to act as potent regulators of cardiac and vascular functions, through the activation of the CRF receptors that are highly expressed in heart and peripheral tissues. Urocortin exhibits potent vasodilatory effects in arteries from different species. These effects have been related to its capability to regulate the intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) by different molecular mechanism. Beside, urocortin increases heart contractility and evokes positive inotropic and lusitropic effects by mechanisms involving different kinases signalling pathways. Urocortin peptides have also the ability to protect the heart from ischemia and reperfusion injuries by their improvement of post-ischemic cardiac performances, which include the recovery of heart contraction, the prevention from intracellular Ca2+ overload and the reduction of cardiac cell death. Furthermore, heart protection by urocortin involves the regulation of the transcription of specific genes acting to minimize mitochondrial damage, cell death, and oxidative stress. This review summarizes some of the recent findings related to the molecular mechanism underlying the role of urocortin in both vascular and cardiac function.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Diaz Ignacio and Smani Tarik, New Insights into the Mechanisms Underlying Vascular and Cardiac Effects of Urocortin, Current Vascular Pharmacology 2013; 11 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570161111311040009
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570161111311040009 |
Print ISSN 1570-1611 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-6212 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Ischemic Cardiovascular Diseases: Mechanisms, Diagnosis and Therapy
Ischemic cardiovascular disease includes myocardial infarction, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, angina pectoris, etc., constitute the leading cause of patient mortality by preventing tissues from getting sufficient oxygen and nutrients. Ischemic heart disease, as a clinical condition, is characterized by myocardial ischemia, causing an imbalance between myocardial blood supply and demand, ...read more
TREATMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN CHRONIC AND END STAGE KIDNEY DISEASE
Cardiovascular disease still remains the leading cause of death in Chronic and End Stage Kidney Disease, accounting for more than half of all deaths in dialysis patients. During the past decade, research has been focused on novel therapeutic agents that might delay or even reverse cardiovascular disease and vascular calcification, ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Nanoparticles-Based Treatment for Bone Metastasis
Current Drug Targets Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors in Veterinary Medicine
Current Pharmaceutical Design Antitumor Activity of Magnetite Nanoparticles: Influence of Hydrocarbonated Chain of Saturated Aliphatic Monocarboxylic Acids
Current Organic Chemistry Cardiac Oxidative Stress and Inflammation are Similar in SAMP8 and SAMR1 Mice and Unaltered by Curcumin and Ginkgo biloba Extract Intake
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Irbesartan and Hydrochlorothiazide Association in the Treatment of Hypertension
Current Vascular Pharmacology Nitrogen Biobank for Cardiovascular Research
Current Cardiology Reviews Current Algorithms for the Diagnosis of wide QRS Complex Tachycardias
Current Cardiology Reviews Fontan Circulation Might be Associated with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: A Review of Mechanistic and Clinical Aspects
Current Cardiology Reviews Hypoglycaemia and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Patients with Diabetes
Current Pharmaceutical Design Mitochondrial-Targeted Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress: A Proteomic Prospective Study
Current Pharmaceutical Design Health Care Discovery, Novo Nordisk A/S, DK-2880 Bagsværd, Denmark
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology The Biology of the RNA Binding Protein Guanine-Rich Sequence Binding Factor 1
Current Protein & Peptide Science Calcium Handling and Arrhythmogenesis
Medicinal Chemistry Present Drug Therapy of Demyelinating Disorders
Current Drug Therapy Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: A Promising Cell Source for the Treatment of Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Secondary Prevention of Ischemic Stroke
Current Drug Targets By Discontinuing Beta-Blockers Before an Exercise Test, We may Precipitate a Rebound Phenomenon
Current Vascular Pharmacology microRNA as Biomarkers and Regulator of Cardiovascular Development and Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design Development of Functional Dark Chocolate by Incorporating Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) Oil and Honey with Improved Organoleptic and Textural Attributes
Current Nutrition & Food Science Peripheral Arterial Disease - The Forgotten Risk Factor
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued)