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Kavalakatt S, Khadir A, Madhu D, Devarajan S, Warsame S, AlKandari H, AlMahdi M, Koistinen HA, Al‐Mulla F, Tuomilehto J, Abubaker J, Tiss A. Circulating levels of urocortin neuropeptides are impaired in children with overweight. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2022; 30:472-481. [PMID: 35088550 PMCID: PMC9305428 DOI: 10.1002/oby.23356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The corticotropin-releasing factor neuropeptides (corticotropin-releasing hormone [CRH] and urocortin [UCN]-1,2,3) and spexin contribute to the regulation of energy balance and inhibit food intake in mammals. However, the status of these neuropeptides in children with overweight has yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the effect of increased body weight on the circulating levels of these neuropeptides. METHODS A total of 120 children with a mean age of 12 years were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were collected to assess the circulating levels of neuropeptides and were correlated with various anthropometric, clinical, and metabolic markers. RESULTS Plasma levels of UCNs were altered in children with overweight but less so in those with obesity. Furthermore, the expression pattern of UCN1 was opposite to that of UCN2 and UCN3, which suggests a compensatory effect. However, no significant effect of overweight and obesity was observed on CRH and spexin levels. Finally, UCN3 independently associated with circulating zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein and UCN2 levels, whereas UCN1 was strongly predicted by TNFα levels. CONCLUSIONS Significant changes in neuropeptide levels were primarily observed in children with overweight and were attenuated with increased obesity. This suggests the presence of a compensatory mechanism for neuropeptides to curb the progression of obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Kavalakatt
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Research DivisionDasman Diabetes InstituteKuwait
- Faculty of MedicineUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Abdelkrim Khadir
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Research DivisionDasman Diabetes InstituteKuwait
| | - Dhanya Madhu
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Research DivisionDasman Diabetes InstituteKuwait
| | | | - Samia Warsame
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Research DivisionDasman Diabetes InstituteKuwait
| | | | | | - Heikki A. Koistinen
- Department of MedicineHelsinki University HospitalHelsinkiFinland
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical ResearchHelsinkiFinland
- Department of Public Health and WelfareFinnish Institute for Health and WelfareHelsinkiFinland
| | | | - Jaakko Tuomilehto
- Department of Public Health and WelfareFinnish Institute for Health and WelfareHelsinkiFinland
- Department of Public HealthUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Diabetes Research GroupKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
| | - Jehad Abubaker
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Research DivisionDasman Diabetes InstituteKuwait
| | - Ali Tiss
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Research DivisionDasman Diabetes InstituteKuwait
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Urocortins as biomarkers in cardiovascular disease. Clin Sci (Lond) 2022; 136:1-14. [PMID: 34939089 DOI: 10.1042/cs20210732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The urocortins (Ucns) belong to the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family of peptides and have multiple effects within the central nervous and the cardiovascular systems. With growing evidence indicating significant cardioprotective properties and cardiovascular actions of these peptides, the question arises as to whether the plasma profiles of the Ucns are altered in pathologic settings. While reports have shown conflicting results and findings have not been corroborated in multiple independent cohorts, it seems likely that plasma Ucn concentrations are elevated in multiple cardiovascular conditions. The degree of increase and accurate determination of circulating values of the Ucns requires further validation.
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Kovács DK, Farkas N, Soós A, Hegyi P, Kelava L, Eitmann S, Schekk A, Molnár Z, Erőss B, Balaskó M. Assessment of clinical data on urocortins and their therapeutic potential in cardiovascular diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Transl Sci 2021; 14:2461-2473. [PMID: 34378854 PMCID: PMC8604231 DOI: 10.1111/cts.13114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) and cardiovascular diseases present public health challenges. Although great progress was achieved in their treatment, there is continuous need for new therapies. Urocortins of the corticotropin neuropeptide family were reported to exert beneficial effects in animal models of HF and cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to assess the available clinical evidence on the potential role of urocortins in HF and other cardiovascular diseases. We explored MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and Scopus databases. Twenty‐seven studies were included in the qualitative and 15 studies (2005 patients) in the quantitative syntheses. Available data allowed us to meta‐analyze the blood pressure (BP) lowering and heart rate (HR) increasing effects of urocortin 2 in HF with reduced ejection fraction. We applied meta‐regression to explore the association between left ventricular ejection fraction and serum urocortin 1 and urocortin 2 levels. Short‐term urocortin 2 infusion decreased mean arterial pressure in chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction (mean difference = −9.161 mmHg, 95% confidence interval [CI] −12.661 to −5.660 mmHg, p < 0.001). Such infusions increased HR mildly (mean difference = 5.629 beats/min, 95% CI 1.612 to 9.646 beats/min, p = 0.006). Although some studies reported increased urocortin 1 and urocortin 2 levels in HF with growing severity, our meta‐regressions failed to confirm associations between blood urocortin levels and left ventricular ejection fraction. Clinical evidence confirms short‐term BP lowering effects of urocortin 2, whereas individual studies report additional beneficial effects. Further clinical investigations are necessary to confirm the latter and the long‐term value of these peptides in cardiovascular diseases. Review protocol: CRD42020163203.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dóra K Kovács
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Nelli Farkas
- Institute of Bioanalysis, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Alexandra Soós
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Péter Hegyi
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,Department of Translational Medicine, First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.,MTA-SZTE Translational Gastroenterology Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Leonardo Kelava
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Szimonetta Eitmann
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Anna Schekk
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Molnár
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Bálint Erőss
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Márta Balaskó
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
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