Urocortin

Abstract

Urocortin (Ucn) is a 40 amino acid peptide which is closely related to corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF). It is expressed in specific regions of the brain but is also detectable in other organs notably the heart. Although some of the effects of Ucn in the nervous system such as enhanced anxiety and activity mimic those of CRF, Ucn is a much more potent suppressor of appetite/feeding behaviour. Moreover, Ucn has much more potent effects on the cardiovascular system than CRF, including enhanced cardiac contractility/heart rate and enhanced resistance of cardiac cells to injury induced, for example, by ischaemia/reperfusion. This suggests Ucn may play a key role in the response of the cardiovascular system to stress. In addition, Ucn represents a novel cardioprotective agent which may be of therapeutic use in treating the damaging effects of cardiac ischaemia and subsequent reperfusion.

Urocortin 2 autocrine/paracrine and pharmacologic effects to activate AMP-activated protein kinase in the heart

“…We observed more necrosis in the AMPK KD mice, but Ucn2 treatment had the residual effect of diminishing injury in their hearts (Fig. S3), consistent with the additional known cardioprotective effects of Ucn2 (8,(23)(24)(25)(26).…”

Urocortin 2 autocrine/paracrine and pharmacologic effects to activate AMP-activated protein kinase in the heart

“…We observed more necrosis in the AMPK KD mice, but Ucn2 treatment had the residual effect of diminishing injury in their hearts (Fig. S3), consistent with the additional known cardioprotective effects of Ucn2 (8,(23)(24)(25)(26).…”

The Transcriptional Coactivator p300 Plays a Critical Role in the Hypertrophic and Protective Pathways Induced by Phenylephrine in Cardiac Cells but Is Specific to the Hypertrophic Effect of Urocortin

“…UCN and cardiotrophin 1 are two such peptides that might prove efficacious in reducing damage after myocardial ischemia, if their protective effect could be separated from their induction of hypertrophy. [2] We demonstrate here that the protection mediated by PE and UCN was equally effective against both apoptotic and necrotic pathways of cell death after simulated ischemia and reperfusion. Interestingly, in response to PE, the hypertrophic and protective pathways overlap at the level of p300.…”

Kurz notiert

“…40 Conversely, some peptides known to confer resistance to ischemic injury also stimulate hypertrophy. UCN and cardiotrophin 1 are two such peptides that might prove efficacious in reducing damage after myocardial ischemia, if their protective effect could be separated from their induction of hypertrophy 2. We demonstrate here that the protection mediated by PE and UCN was equally effective against both apoptotic and necrotic pathways of cell death after simulated ischemia and reperfusion.…”

Urocortin 2 autocrine/paracrine and pharmacologic effects to activate AMP-activated protein kinase in the heart

“…We observed more necrosis in the AMPK KD mice, but Ucn2 treatment had the residual effect of diminishing injury in their hearts (Fig. S3), consistent with the additional known cardioprotective effects of Ucn2 (8,(23)(24)(25)(26).…”

The Transcriptional Coactivator p300 Plays a Critical Role in the Hypertrophic and Protective Pathways Induced by Phenylephrine in Cardiac Cells but Is Specific to the Hypertrophic Effect of Urocortin

“…UCN and cardiotrophin 1 are two such peptides that might prove efficacious in reducing damage after myocardial ischemia, if their protective effect could be separated from their induction of hypertrophy. [2] We demonstrate here that the protection mediated by PE and UCN was equally effective against both apoptotic and necrotic pathways of cell death after simulated ischemia and reperfusion. Interestingly, in response to PE, the hypertrophic and protective pathways overlap at the level of p300.…”

Kurz notiert

“…40 Conversely, some peptides known to confer resistance to ischemic injury also stimulate hypertrophy. UCN and cardiotrophin 1 are two such peptides that might prove efficacious in reducing damage after myocardial ischemia, if their protective effect could be separated from their induction of hypertrophy 2. We demonstrate here that the protection mediated by PE and UCN was equally effective against both apoptotic and necrotic pathways of cell death after simulated ischemia and reperfusion.…”

Urocortin 2 autocrine/paracrine and pharmacologic effects to activate AMP-activated protein kinase in the heart

“…We observed more necrosis in the AMPK KD mice, but Ucn2 treatment had the residual effect of diminishing injury in their hearts (Fig. S3), consistent with the additional known cardioprotective effects of Ucn2 (8,(23)(24)(25)(26).…”

The Transcriptional Coactivator p300 Plays a Critical Role in the Hypertrophic and Protective Pathways Induced by Phenylephrine in Cardiac Cells but Is Specific to the Hypertrophic Effect of Urocortin

“…UCN and cardiotrophin 1 are two such peptides that might prove efficacious in reducing damage after myocardial ischemia, if their protective effect could be separated from their induction of hypertrophy. [2] We demonstrate here that the protection mediated by PE and UCN was equally effective against both apoptotic and necrotic pathways of cell death after simulated ischemia and reperfusion. Interestingly, in response to PE, the hypertrophic and protective pathways overlap at the level of p300.…”

Kurz notiert

“…40 Conversely, some peptides known to confer resistance to ischemic injury also stimulate hypertrophy. UCN and cardiotrophin 1 are two such peptides that might prove efficacious in reducing damage after myocardial ischemia, if their protective effect could be separated from their induction of hypertrophy 2. We demonstrate here that the protection mediated by PE and UCN was equally effective against both apoptotic and necrotic pathways of cell death after simulated ischemia and reperfusion.…”