Cardiovascular Effects of Urocortin-2: Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential

Abstract

A todos aqueles que me acompanharam nesta longa caminhada, contribuindo para o meu crescimento científico, profissional e pessoal.Um especial obrigada à minha mãe, uma figura de destaque na ciência da vida, por fazer de mim aquilo que hoje me posso orgulhar de ser.Como não poderia deixar de ser, agradeço à Professora Doutora Carmen Dulce da Silveira Brás Silva Ribeiro e ao Professor Doutor Rui Miguel da Costa Adão, por serem um exemplo não só na investigação, mas também enquanto pessoas, com os quais aprendi muito e me orgulho de ter tido a oportunidade de trabalhar ao longo dos últimos três anos.

Assessment of clinical data on urocortins and their therapeutic potential in cardiovascular diseases: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“… 14 Previous reviews unequivocally suggested positive therapeutic potential of these hormones in cardiovascular diseases. 6 , 7 , 8 They emphasized the need for appropriate clinical studies, and they saw great potential in manipulating the bioactivity and/or signal transduction of Ucns for therapeutic purposes.…”

“… 5 , 6 Evidence from animal studies indicate that Ucns, especially specific agonists of corticotropin‐releasing factor type 2 receptors (CRF2R), such as Ucn2 and Ucn3 play a complex beneficial role in cardiovascular disorders. 6 , 7 , 8 These hormones are produced in peripheral tissues, including blood vessels and the heart. 9 , 10 , 11 Moreover, CRF2Rs also show high levels of expression in the cardiovascular system.…”

“… 15 Preliminary clinical studies suggest a positive therapeutic potential of these hormones in cardiovascular diseases, based on increases in cardiac output and in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). 7 , 8 Some studies demonstrated elevated blood levels of Ucns in cardiovascular diseases. 8 In order to decide whether Ucns could serve as therapeutic tools or as biomarkers in cardiovascular diseases and HF, further investigations are needed.…”

“… 7 , 8 Some studies demonstrated elevated blood levels of Ucns in cardiovascular diseases. 8 In order to decide whether Ucns could serve as therapeutic tools or as biomarkers in cardiovascular diseases and HF, further investigations are needed.…”

Urocortin Role in Ischemia Cardioprotection and the Adverse Cardiac Remodeling

“…Preclinical studies proposed a positive therapeutic potential of Ucn's family in cardiovascular diseases since they increased cardiac output, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) [62,63], and evoked vasodilation in human coronary arteries isolated from ischemic HF patients [64]. Therefore, the first investigations studied Ucn's value as a biochemical marker for the diagnosis and management of patients with HF [65][66][67] but also as therapeutic drug that might overcome HF symptoms [68], as summarized in Table 2. Clinical and translational studies about Ucn in AMI patients are still rare, although several reports investigated Ucn in HF patients, as reviewed recently [68].…”