title: Urotensin-II and the cardiovascular system--the importance of developing modulators.
abstract: Urotensin-II (U-II) potently contracts some large isolated blood vessels and cardiac tissue. However, the maximum effects on human blood vessels and heart are relatively small. U-II dilates human resistance arteries. It markedly decreased myocardial function and increased vascular resistance in cynomolgus monkeys, but the major effects of U-II have not been observed in healthy humans. A major role for U-II in human cardiovascular disease has not been clearly established despite studies in patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure, essential hypertension and diabetes. Peptide and non-peptide agonists and antagonists of the U-II receptor are being developed and will be useful in the characterisation of the effects of U-II, and may have some therapeutic potential.
authors.affiliation: Doggrell Biomedical Communications, 47 Caronia Crescent, Lynfield, Auckland, New Zealand. s.doggrell@xtra.co.nz
authors.forename: Sheila A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Doggrell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D014579:Urotensins / Q000819:agonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014579:Urotensins; C029677:urotensin II