title: New targets of urocortin-mediated cardioprotection.
abstract: The urocortin (UCN) hormones UCN1 and UCN2 have been shown previously to confer significant protection against myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their action are poorly understood. To further define the transcriptional effect of UCNs that underpins their cardioprotective activity, a microarray analysis was carried out using an in vivo rat coronary occlusion model of I/R injury. Infusion of UCN1 or UCN2 before the onset of reperfusion resulted in the differential regulation of 66 and 141 genes respectively, the majority of which have not been described previously. Functional analysis demonstrated that UCN-regulated genes are involved in a wide range of biological responses, including cell death (e.g. X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein), oxidative stress (e.g. nuclear factor erythroid derived 2-related factor 1/nuclear factor erythroid derived 2-like 1) and metabolism (e.g. Prkaa2/AMPK). In addition, both UCN1 and UCN2 were found to modulate the expression of a host of genes involved in G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signalling including Rac2, Gnb1, Dab2ip (AIP1), Ralgds, Rnd3, Rap1a and PKA, thereby revealing previously unrecognised signalling intermediates downstream of CRH receptors. Moreover, several of these GPCR-related genes have been shown previously to be involved in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, suggesting a link between CRH receptors and induction of MAPKs. In addition, we have shown that both UCN1 and UCN2 significantly reduce free radical damage following myocardial infarction, and comparison of the UCN gene signatures with that of the anti-oxidant tempol revealed a significant overlap. These data uncover novel gene expression changes induced by UCNs, which will serve as a platform to further understand their mechanism of action in normal physiology and cardioprotection.
authors.affiliation: Medical Molecular Biology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, WC1N 1EH, UK. s.barry@ich.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Seán P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.forename: Surinder M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Soond
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hubank
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.forename: Ahila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sivarajah
authors.forename: Tiziano M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Scarabelli
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thiemermann
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Latchman
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Townsend
authors.forename: Anastasis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stephanou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D054832:Urocortins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D005609:Free Radicals; D054832:Urocortins; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases