title: Mechanisms of action and clinical implications of cardiac urocortin: a journey from the heart to the systemic circulation, with a stopover in the mitochondria.
abstract: The small peptide urocortin (Ucn) has the ability to protect the heart by reducing cardiac cell loss during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion, and improving post-ischemic cardiac performance. Although its mechanism of action is not clearly defined, investigations have revealed that Ucn acts through several kinase pathways, and modulates a group of genes which synergistically minimize mitochondrial damage. Besides cardioprotection, most recent findings suggest a role for Ucn as a cardiac biomarker. Serum Ucn levels may be clinically useful to diagnose cases of mild sub-lethal ischemia, lacking elevation of cardiac enzymes and electrocardiogram changes. Infusion of Ucn may also help reduce the extent of the iatrogenic ischemic/reperfusion injury, associated with cardioplegic arrest.
authors.affiliation: Center for Heart and Vessel Preclinical Studies, St John Hospital and Medical Center, Wayne State University Medical School, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Erlene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuizon
authors.forename: Eve G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: Sarah G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen-Scarabelli
authors.forename: Zhaokan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Kadija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abounit
authors.forename: Roy B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: McCauley
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saravolatz
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faggian
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzucco
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Townsend
authors.forename: Tiziano M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Scarabelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D009336:Necrosis; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D054832:Urocortins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D054832:Urocortins; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)