title: Urocortin: a protective peptide that targets both the myocardium and vasculature.
abstract: The urocortins are a family of endogenously produced peptide hormones that show great promise as potential drugs for the treatment of heart disease. They can increase contractility and cardiac output without causing changes in mean arterial blood pressure. As expected, the receptor for these peptides is present in cardiomyocytes, and they can bind and protect these cells from simulated ischemia and reperfusion in vitro. The receptor is present, however, in much higher density in the endothelial cells that form a continuous lining of the coronary vasculature. Functionally, the urocortin peptides have been shown to have potent local vasodilatory effects, and may affect other aspects of vascular function. In this review, we will attempt to distinguish the "cardio" from the "vascular" effects of urocortin and its homologues, including the archetypal family member, corticotrophin releasing hormone.
authors.affiliation: The Hatter Cardiovascular Institute, University College London Hospital and Medical School, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sean M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Derek M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Yellon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology; D054832:Urocortins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D054832:Urocortins; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone