Increased expression of urotensin II and its cognate receptor GPR14 in atherosclerotic lesions of the human aorta

Urotensin II Induces Migration of Endothelial Progenitor Cells via Activation of the RhoA/Rho Kinase Pathway

“…The increased expression of UII observed in endothelial and smooth muscle cells of aorta, carotid, and coronary arteries with atherosclerosis might contribute to the attraction of cells-expressing UT receptor to vessel walls (Bousette et al 2004;Hassan et al 2005). In the present study, we show that UII as the UT receptor ligand is a novel chemoattractant peptide for EPCs.…”

“…The response-to-injury hypothesis presupposed that atherosclerosis was a chronic inflammatory process following localized injury to the vessel wall, in particular to the endothelial layer lining the lumen of the vessel. UII could be released from endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells (Bousette et al 2004), contributes to the recruitment of monocyte expressing the UT receptor to inflamed tissues. Segain and colleagues reported that near 98% of the CD14 + cells were UT receptor positive.…”

Urotensin II receptor antagonism confers vasoprotective effects in diabetes associated atherosclerosis: studies in humans and in a mouse model of diabetes

“…UII and its receptor are known to be upregulated in atherosclerotic plaque from non-diabetic animals and human patients [9][10][11]. Additionally, chronic UII infusion has been shown to enhance macrophage foam cell formation [12] and atherosclerosis in high-fat-fed Apoe knockout (KO) mice [13].…”

Plasma urotensin II levels in primary Raynaud’s phenomenon and systemic sclerosis

“…It is widely known that one of the earliest changes in the pathogenesis of SSc is vascular dysfunction (22). The effects of UII on the vascular system have been intensively investigated (17)(18)(19)(20). Increased UII levels were reported in SSc patients (23).…”