title: The role of urotensin II in the metabolic syndrome.
abstract: Urotensin II is a potent vasoconstrictive peptide that mediates both endothelium-independent vasoconstriction and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation. Its plasma level correlates positively with body weight and is raised in diabetes, renal failure, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases including congestive heart failure and carotid atherosclerosis. It can inhibit glucose-induced insulin secretion, and genetic variants in urotensin II gene are associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Urotensin II also affects lipid metabolism in fish and food intake in mice. Recent studies have also demonstrated a role of urotensin II in inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. These findings suggest a close relationship between urotensin II and at least some components of the metabolic syndrome, including hypertension, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine & Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy Aging, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kwok Leung
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: Louisa Y F
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Bernard M Y
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors; D014579:Urotensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014579:Urotensins; C029677:urotensin II