title: Increased circulating urotensin II in cirrhosis: potential implications in liver disease.
abstract: Urotensin II (UII) is a potent vasoactive mediator which, through interaction with a specific G-protein coupled receptor, can result in either a vasoconstrictive or vasodilatory response. In addition to its effect upon vascular tone, UII possess mitogenic and fibrogenic potential. The influence of UII on vascular tone is to some degree both species-specific and disease-specific. Increased circulating UII levels have been documented in subjects with liver cirrhosis although the significance of this finding with regards to the development of chronic liver disease and portal hypertension has yet to be fully elucidated. In this review we focus on the potential relevance of UII as a vasoactive mediator in the chronic liver disease population and postulate as to the site of overproduction of UII.
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Therapeutics, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. w.kemp@alfred.org.au
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Krum
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D014579:Urotensins / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C121697:UTS2R protein, human; D014579:Urotensins; D013004:Somatostatin; C029677:urotensin II