Urocortin 2 in cardiovascular health and disease.
Urocortin (Ucn)-2 - corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 signaling has favorable effects in the cardiovascular system, including coronary vasodilatation, with increased coronary blood flow and conductance and augmented cardiac contractility and output, as well as protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury. Indeed, several animal studies have confirmed the salutary therapeutic effects of Ucn-2 in chronic heart failure, with improvements in cardiac performance and animal survival. In addition, recent clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits of Ucn-2 in patients with stable chronic heart failure on optimal medical therapy.
Department of Physiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, Porto 4200-319, Portugal.
Rui
R
Adão
Department of Physiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, Porto 4200-319, Portugal.
Diana
D
Santos-Ribeiro
Christchurch Heart Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Miriam T
MT
Rademaker
Department of Physiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, Porto 4200-319, Portugal.
Adelino F
AF
Leite-Moreira
Department of Physiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, Porto 4200-319, Portugal; Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: carmensb@med.up.pt.
Carmen
C
Brás-Silva
D000818:Animals; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D011487:Protein Conformation; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D054832:Urocortins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D054832:Urocortins