title: Urotensin II and atherosclerosis.
abstract: Urotensin II, through its interaction with its UT receptor, is a potent vasoactive peptide in humans and in several animal models. Recent studies have demonstrated elevated plasma U-II levels in patients with atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. U-II is expressed in endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and infiltrating macrophages of atherosclerotic human coronary arteries. UT receptor expression is up-regulated by inflammatory stimuli. Activation of UT receptor by U-II stimulates endothelial and smooth muscle cell proliferation and monocytes chemotaxis. Therefore, in addition to its primary vasoactive effect, these observations suggest a role of U-II and UT receptor in the initiation and/or progression of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Inserm U533, Nantes F-44000, France.
authors.forename: Gervaise
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Loirand
authors.forename: Malvyne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rolli-Derkinderen
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pacaud
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014579:Urotensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C121697:UTS2R protein, human; D014579:Urotensins; C029677:urotensin II