title: Pathophysiologic and therapeutic implications of adrenomedullin in cardiovascular disorders.
abstract: Adrenomedullin (AM) is a vasodilator peptide that originally isolated from pheochromocytoma tissue. However, the mRNA is expressed in the normal adrenal gland, heart, kidney and blood vessels. The human AM gene is located in the short arm of chromosome 11 and is composed of 4 exons. There are 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms in introns 1 and 3, and the 3'-end of the AM gene is flanked by a microsatellite marker of cytosine-adenine repeats that is associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension and diabetic nephropathy. AM gene expression is promoted by various stimuli, including inflammation, hypoxia, oxidative stress, mechanical stress and activation of the renin-angiotensin and sympathetic nervous systems. The AM gene promoter region possessed binding site for several transcription factors, including nuclear factor for interleukin-6 expression (NF-IL6) and activator protein 2 (AP-2). Further, plasma AM levels are increased in patients with various cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, heart failure and renal failure. These findings suggest that AM plays a role in the development of or response to cardiovascular disease. Indeed, experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that systemic infusion of AM may have a therapeutic effect on myocardial infarction, heart failure and renal failure. Further, vasopeptidase inhibitors which augment the bioactivity of endogenous AM may benefit patients with hypertension and arteriosclerosis. Finally, the angiogenic and cytoprotective properties of AM may have utility in revascularization and infarcted myocardium and ischemic limbs. Because of the potential clinical benefits of AM, indications for use and optimal dosing strategies should be established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hypertension and Cardiorenal Medicine, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Mibu, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan. isimitu@dokkyomed.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishimitsu
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
mesh_terms: D053607:Adrenomedullin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D053607:Adrenomedullin