1
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Zhu C, Li S. The peripheral corticotropin releasing factor family's role in vasculitis. Vascul Pharmacol 2024; 154:107275. [PMID: 38184094 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2023.107275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Corticotropin releasing factor family peptides (CRF peptides) include 4 members, corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), Urocortin (UCN1), UCN2 and UCN3. CRF peptides function via the two distinct receptors, CRF1 and CRF2. Among them, CRH/CRF1 has been recognized to influence immunity/inflammation peripherally. Both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects of CRH are reported. Likewise, UCNs, peripherally in cardiovascular system have been documented to have both potent protective and harmful effects, with UCN1 acting on both CRF1 & CRF2 and UCN2 & UCN3 on CRF2. We and others also observe protective and detrimental effects of CRF peptides/receptors on vasculature, with the latter of predominantly higher incidence, i.e., they play an important role in the development of vasculitis while in some cases they are found to counteract vascular inflammation. The pro-vasculitis effects of CRH & UCNs include increasing vascular endothelial permeability, interrupting endothelial adherens & tight junctions leading to hyperpermeability, stimulating immune/inflammatory cells to release inflammatory factors, and promoting angiogenesis by VEGF release while the anti-vasculitis effects may be just the opposite, depending on many factors such as different CRF receptor types, species and systemic conditions. Furthermore, CRF peptides' pro-vasculitis effects are found to be likely related to cPLA2 and S1P receptor signal pathway. This minireview will focus on summarizing the peripheral effects of CRF peptides on vasculature participating in the processes of vasculitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Longmian Avenue, 101, Nanjing, China
| | - Shengnan Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Longmian Avenue, 101, Nanjing, China.
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2
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Mayoral-González I, Calderón-Sánchez EM, Galeano-Otero I, Martín-Bórnez M, Gutiérrez-Carretero E, Fernández-Velasco M, Domenech N, Crespo-Leiro MG, Gómez AM, Ordóñez-Fernández A, Hmadcha A, Smani T. Cardiac protection induced by urocortin-2 enables the regulation of apoptosis and fibrosis after ischemia and reperfusion involving miR-29a modulation. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 27:838-853. [PMID: 35141045 PMCID: PMC8807986 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Urocortin-2 (Ucn-2) has demonstrated cardioprotective actions against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injuries. Herein, we explored the protective role of Ucn-2 through microRNAs (miRNAs) post-transcriptional regulation of apoptotic and pro-fibrotic genes. We determined that the intravenous administration of Ucn-2 before heart reperfusion in a Wistar rat model of I/R recovered cardiac contractility and decreased fibrosis, lactate dehydrogenase release, and apoptosis. The infusion of Ucn-2 also inhibited the upregulation of 6 miRNAs in revascularized heart. The in silico analysis indicated that miR-29a and miR-451_1∗ are predicted to target many apoptotic and fibrotic genes. Accordingly, the transfection of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes with mimics overexpressing miR-29a, but not miR-451_1∗, prevented I/R-induced expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes such as Apaf-1, Hmox-1, and Cycs, as well as pro-fibrotic genes Col-I and Col-III. We also confirmed that Hmox-1, target of miR-29a, is highly expressed at the mRNA and protein levels in adult rat heart under I/R, whereas, Ucn-2 abolished I/R-induced mRNA and protein upregulation of HMOX-1. Interestingly, a significant upregulation of Hmox-1 was observed in the ventricle of ischemic patients with heart failure, correlating negatively with the left ventricle ejection fraction. Altogether, these data indicate that Ucn-2, through miR-29a regulation, provides long-lasting cardioprotection, involving the post-transcriptional regulation of apoptotic and fibrotic genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Mayoral-González
- Department of Surgery, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
- Group of Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío/University of Seville/CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Eva M. Calderón-Sánchez
- Group of Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío/University of Seville/CSIC, Seville, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Cardiovaculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Galeano-Otero
- Group of Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío/University of Seville/CSIC, Seville, Spain
- Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Marta Martín-Bórnez
- Department of Surgery, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
- Group of Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío/University of Seville/CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Encarnación Gutiérrez-Carretero
- Department of Surgery, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
- Group of Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío/University of Seville/CSIC, Seville, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Cardiovaculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - María Fernández-Velasco
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Cardiovaculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
- Innate Immune Response Group, IdiPAZ, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nieves Domenech
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Cardiovaculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
- Cardiology Department, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña, Servicio Gallego de Salud, Universidade da Coruña, Coruña, Spain
| | - María Generosa Crespo-Leiro
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Cardiovaculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
- Cardiology Department, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña, Servicio Gallego de Salud, Universidade da Coruña, Coruña, Spain
| | - Ana María Gómez
- Signaling and Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, INSERM, Université Paris Saclay, Châtenay-Malabry, France
| | - Antonio Ordóñez-Fernández
- Department of Surgery, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
- Group of Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío/University of Seville/CSIC, Seville, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Cardiovaculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Abdelkrim Hmadcha
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
- University of Pablo Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Tarik Smani
- Group of Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío/University of Seville/CSIC, Seville, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Cardiovaculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
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3
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Urocortin Role in Ischemia Cardioprotection and the Adverse Cardiac Remodeling. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212115. [PMID: 34829997 PMCID: PMC8622004 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the considerable progress in strategies of myocardial protection, ischemic heart diseases (IHD) and consequent heart failure (HF) remain the main cause of mortality worldwide. Several procedures are used routinely to guarantee the prompt and successful reestablishment of blood flow to preserve the myocardial viability of infarcted hearts from ischemia injuries. However, ischemic heart reperfusion/revascularization triggers additional damages that occur when oxygen-rich blood re-enters the vulnerable myocardial tissue, which is a phenomenon known as ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) syndrome. Complications of I/R injuries provoke the adverse cardiac remodeling, involving inflammation, mishandling of Ca2+ homeostasis, apoptotic genes activation, cardiac myocytes loss, etc., which often progress toward HF. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new cardioprotective therapies for IHD and HF. Compelling evidence from animal studies and pilot clinical trials in HF patients suggest that urocortin (Ucn) isoforms, which are peptides associated with stress and belonging to the corticotropin releasing factor family, have promising potential to improve cardiovascular functions by targeting many signaling pathways at different molecular levels. This review highlights the current knowledge on the role of urocortin isoforms in cardioprotection, focusing on its acute and long-term effects.
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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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5
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Role of Orai1 and L-type Ca V1.2 channels in Endothelin-1 mediated coronary contraction under ischemia and reperfusion. Cell Calcium 2020; 86:102157. [PMID: 31926404 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2019.102157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ischemia and Reperfusion (I/R) injuries are associated with coronary artery hypercontracture. They are mainly originated by an exacerbated response to agonists released by endothelium such as Endothelin (ET-1), involving the alteration in intracellular calcium handling. Recent evidences have highlighted the implication of Store-Operated Calcium Channels (SOCC) in intracellular calcium homeostasis in coronary artery. However, little is known about the role of SOCC in the regulation of coronary vascular tone under I/R. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of SOCC and l-type Ca2+ channels (LTCC) in coronary artery vasoconstriction originated by ET-1 in I/R. We used Left Anterior Descendent coronary artery (LAD) rings, isolated from Wistar rats, to study the contractility and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) under a simulated I/R protocol. We observed that responses to high-KCL induced depolarization and caffeine-induced Ca2+ release are attenuated in coronary artery under I/R. Furthermore, ET-1 addition in ischemia promotes transient and small rise of [Ca2+]i and coronary vascular tone. Meanwhile, these effects are significantly potentiated during reperfusion. The resulting ET-1-induced vasoconstrictions and [Ca2+]i increase were abolished by; GSK-7975A and gadolinium, inhibitors of SOCC; and nifedipine a widely used inhibitor of LTCC. Interestingly, using in situ Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA) in isolated coronary smooth muscle cells we found significant colocalization of LTCC CaV1.2 isoform with Orai1, the pore forming subunit of SOCC, and TRPC1 under I/R. Our data suggest that hypercontraction of coronary artery induced by ET-1 after I/R involves the co-activation of LTCC and SOCC, which colocalize significantly in the sarcolemma of coronary smooth muscle cells.
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6
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Cardiovascular Effects of Urocortin-2: Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 2019; 33:599-613. [DOI: 10.1007/s10557-019-06895-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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7
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Yuan J, Hasdemir B, Tan T, Chheda C, Rivier J, Pandol SJ, Bhargava A. Protective effects of urocortin 2 against caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0217065. [PMID: 31100090 PMCID: PMC6524941 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Because little is known about the role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) agonists in regulating responses in pancreatitis, we evaluated the effects of urocortin 2 (UCN2) and stressin1 in caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) model in rats. Male rats were pretreated with UCN2 or stressin1 for 30 min followed by induction of AP with supraphysiologic doses of caerulein. Serum amylase and lipase activity, pancreatic tissue necrosis, immune cell infiltrate, nuclear factor (NF)-κB activity, trypsin levels, and intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) were ascertained. UCN2, but not stressin1 attenuated the severity of AP in rats. UCN2, but not stressin1, reduced serum amylase and lipase activity, cell necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in AP. NF-κB activity in pancreatic nuclear extracts increased in AP and UCN2 treatment reduced caerulein-induced increases in NF-κB activity by 42%. UCN2 treatment prevented caerulein-induced degradation of IκB-α in the cytosolic fraction as well as increased levels of p65 subunit of NF-κB in the cytosolic fraction. Pancreatic UCN2 levels decreased in AP compared with saline. UCN2 evoked [Ca2+]i responses in primary acinar cells and abolished caerulein-evoked [Ca2+]i responses at 0.1nM, and decreased by ~50% at 1.0nM caerulein. UCN2 stimulation resulted in redistribution of a portion of F-actin from the apical to the basolateral pole. UCN2 prevented the massive redistribution of F-actin observed with supraphysiologic doses of caerulein. UCN2, but not stressin1 attenuated severity of an experimental pancreatitis model. The protective effects of UCN2, including anti-inflammatory and anti-necrotic effects involve activation of the CRF2 receptor, [Ca2+]i signaling, and inhibition of NF-κB activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingzhen Yuan
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Burcu Hasdemir
- The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- Department of OB/GYN, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Tanya Tan
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Chintan Chheda
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Jean Rivier
- The Salk Institute, The Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Stephen J. Pandol
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Aditi Bhargava
- The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- Department of OB/GYN, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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8
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Do urocortins have a role in treating cardiovascular disease? Drug Discov Today 2019; 24:279-284. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2018.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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9
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Domínguez-Rodríguez A, Mayoral-Gonzalez I, Avila-Medina J, de Rojas-de Pedro ES, Calderón-Sánchez E, Díaz I, Hmadcha A, Castellano A, Rosado JA, Benitah JP, Gomez AM, Ordoñez A, Smani T. Urocortin-2 Prevents Dysregulation of Ca 2+ Homeostasis and Improves Early Cardiac Remodeling After Ischemia and Reperfusion. Front Physiol 2018; 9:813. [PMID: 30018568 PMCID: PMC6037857 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims: Urocortin-2 (Ucn-2) is a potent cardioprotector against Ischemia and Reperfusion (I/R) injuries. However, little is known about its role in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) under I/R. Here, we examined whether the addition of Ucn-2 in reperfusion promotes cardioprotection focusing on ([Ca2+]i handling. Methods and Results: Cardiac Wistar rat model of I/R was induced by transient ligation of the left coronary artery and experiments were conducted 1 week after surgery in tissue and adult cardiomyocytes isolated from risk and remote zones. We observed that I/R promoted significant alteration in cardiac contractility as well as an increase in hypertrophy and fibrosis in both zones. The study of confocal [Ca2+]i imaging in adult cardiomyocytes revealed that I/R decreased the amplitude of [Ca2+]i transient and cardiomyocytes contraction in risk and remote zones. Interestingly, intravenous infusion of Ucn-2 before heart’s reperfusion recovered significantly cardiac contractility and prevented fibrosis, but it didn’t affect cardiac hypertrophy. Moreover, Ucn-2 recovered the amplitude of [Ca2+]i transient and modulated the expression of several proteins related to [Ca2+]i homeostasis, such as TRPC5 and Orai1 channels. Using Neonatal Rat Ventricular Myocytes (NRVM) we demonstrated that Ucn-2 blunted I/R-induced Store Operated Ca2+ Entry (SOCE), decreased the expression of TRPC5 and Orai1 as well as their interaction in reperfusion. Conclusion: Our study provides the first evidences demonstrating that Ucn-2 addition at the onset of reperfusion attenuates I/R-induced adverse cardiac remodeling, involving the [Ca2+]i handling and inhibiting the expression and interaction between TRPC5 and Orai1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Domínguez-Rodríguez
- Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío, University of Seville, CIBERCV, CSIC, Seville, Spain.,Departamento de Fisiología Médica y Biofísica, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Isabel Mayoral-Gonzalez
- Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío, University of Seville, CIBERCV, CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Javier Avila-Medina
- Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío, University of Seville, CIBERCV, CSIC, Seville, Spain.,Departamento de Fisiología Médica y Biofísica, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Eva S de Rojas-de Pedro
- Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío, University of Seville, CIBERCV, CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Eva Calderón-Sánchez
- Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío, University of Seville, CIBERCV, CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Ignacio Díaz
- Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío, University of Seville, CIBERCV, CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Abdelkrim Hmadcha
- Department of Regeneration and Cell Therapy, Andalusian Center for Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER), Junta de Andalucia, University of Pablo de Olavide, University of Seville, CSIC, Seville, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Castellano
- Departamento de Fisiología Médica y Biofísica, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Juan A Rosado
- Departamento de Fisiología, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Jean-Pierre Benitah
- UMR-S 1180, INSERM, Universite Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Châtenay-Malabry, France
| | - Ana M Gomez
- UMR-S 1180, INSERM, Universite Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Châtenay-Malabry, France
| | - Antonio Ordoñez
- Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío, University of Seville, CIBERCV, CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Tarik Smani
- Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío, University of Seville, CIBERCV, CSIC, Seville, Spain.,Departamento de Fisiología Médica y Biofísica, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
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10
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Adão R, Mendes-Ferreira P, Santos-Ribeiro D, Maia-Rocha C, Pimentel LD, Monteiro-Pinto C, Mulvaney EP, Reid HM, Kinsella BT, Potus F, Breuils-Bonnet S, Rademaker MT, Provencher S, Bonnet S, Leite-Moreira AF, Brás-Silva C. Urocortin-2 improves right ventricular function and attenuates pulmonary arterial hypertension. Cardiovasc Res 2018; 114:1165-1177. [DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvy076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Aims
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease and treatment options are limited. Urocortin-2 (Ucn-2) has shown promising therapeutic effects in experimental and clinical left ventricular heart failure (HF). Our aim was to analyse the expression of Ucn-2 in human and experimental PAH, and to investigate the effects of human Ucn-2 (hUcn-2) administration in rats with monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH).
Methods and results
Tissue samples were collected from patients with and without PAH and from rats with MCT-induced PH. hUcn-2 (5 μg/kg, bi-daily, i.p., for 10 days) or vehicle was administered to male wistar rats subjected to MCT injection or to pulmonary artery banding (PAB) to induce right ventricular (RV) overload without PAH. Expression of Ucn-2 and its receptor was increased in the RV of patients and rats with PAH. hUcn-2 treatment reduced PAH in MCT rats, resulting in decreased morbidity, improved exercise capacity and attenuated pulmonary arterial and RV remodelling and dysfunction. Additionally, RV gene expression of hypertrophy and failure signalling pathways were attenuated. hUcn-2 treatment also attenuated PAB-induced RV hypertrophy.
Conclusions
Ucn-2 levels are altered in human and experimental PAH. hUcn-2 treatment attenuates PAH and RV dysfunction in MCT-induced PH, has direct anti-remodelling effects on the pressure-overloaded RV, and improves pulmonary vascular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Adão
- Department of Surgery and Physiology, Cardiovascular Research and Development Center - UnIC, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Mendes-Ferreira
- Department of Surgery and Physiology, Cardiovascular Research and Development Center - UnIC, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Diana Santos-Ribeiro
- Department of Surgery and Physiology, Cardiovascular Research and Development Center - UnIC, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carolina Maia-Rocha
- Department of Surgery and Physiology, Cardiovascular Research and Development Center - UnIC, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís D Pimentel
- Department of Surgery and Physiology, Cardiovascular Research and Development Center - UnIC, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Monteiro-Pinto
- Department of Surgery and Physiology, Cardiovascular Research and Development Center - UnIC, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Eamon P Mulvaney
- UCD Conway Institute for Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin,Ireland
| | - Helen M Reid
- UCD Conway Institute for Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin,Ireland
| | - B Therese Kinsella
- UCD Conway Institute for Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin,Ireland
| | - François Potus
- Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Sandra Breuils-Bonnet
- Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Miriam T Rademaker
- Department of Medicine, Christchurch Heart Institute, University of Otago-Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Steeve Provencher
- Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Sébastien Bonnet
- Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Adelino F Leite-Moreira
- Department of Surgery and Physiology, Cardiovascular Research and Development Center - UnIC, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carmen Brás-Silva
- Department of Surgery and Physiology, Cardiovascular Research and Development Center - UnIC, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
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11
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Rademaker MT, Richards AM. Urocortins: Actions in health and heart failure. Clin Chim Acta 2017; 474:76-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Urocortin Treatment Improves Acute Hemodynamic Instability and Reduces Myocardial Damage in Post-Cardiac Arrest Myocardial Dysfunction. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166324. [PMID: 27832152 PMCID: PMC5104489 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims Hemodynamic instability occurs following cardiac arrest and is associated with high mortality during the post-cardiac period. Urocortin is a novel peptide and a member of the corticotrophin-releasing factor family. Urocortin has the potential to improve acute cardiac dysfunction, as well as to reduce the myocardial damage sustained after ischemia reperfusion injury. The effects of urocortin in post-cardiac arrest myocardial dysfunction remain unclear. Methods and Results We developed a preclinical cardiac arrest model and investigated the effects of urocortin. After cardiac arrest induced by 6.5 min asphyxia, male Wistar rats were resuscitated and randomized to either the urocortin treatment group or the control group. Urocortin (10 μg/kg) was administrated intravenously upon onset of resuscitation in the experimental group. The rate of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was similar between the urocortin group (76%) and the control group (72%) after resuscitation. The left ventricular systolic (dP/dt40) and diastolic (maximal negative dP/dt) functions, and cardiac output, were ameliorated within 4 h after ROSC in the urocortin-treated group compared to the control group (P<0.01). The neurological function of surviving animals was better at 6 h after ROSC in the urocortin-treated group (p = 0.023). The 72-h survival rate was greater in the urocortin-treated group compared to the control group (p = 0.044 by log-rank test). Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was lower in the urocortin-treated group (39.9±8.6 vs. 17.5±4.6% of TUNEL positive nuclei, P<0.05) with significantly increased Akt, ERK and STAT-3 activation and phosphorylation in the myocardium (P<0.05). Conclusions Urocortin treatment can improve acute hemodynamic instability as well as reducing myocardial damage in post-cardiac arrest myocardial dysfunction.
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Ávila-Medina J, Calderón-Sánchez E, González-Rodríguez P, Monje-Quiroga F, Rosado JA, Castellano A, Ordóñez A, Smani T. Orai1 and TRPC1 Proteins Co-localize with CaV1.2 Channels to Form a Signal Complex in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:21148-21159. [PMID: 27535226 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.742171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Voltage-dependent CaV1.2 L-type Ca2+ channels (LTCC) are the main route for calcium entry in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Several studies have also determined the relevant role of store-operated Ca2+ channels (SOCC) in vascular tone regulation. Nevertheless, the role of Orai1- and TRPC1-dependent SOCC in vascular tone regulation and their possible interaction with CaV1.2 are still unknown. The current study sought to characterize the co-activation of SOCC and LTCC upon stimulation by agonists, and to determine the possible crosstalk between Orai1, TRPC1, and CaV1.2. Aorta rings and isolated VSMC obtained from wild type or smooth muscle-selective conditional CaV1.2 knock-out (CaV1.2KO) mice were used to study vascular contractility, intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, and distribution of ion channels. We found that serotonin (5-HT) or store depletion with thapsigargin (TG) enhanced intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and stimulated aorta contraction. These responses were sensitive to LTCC and SOCC inhibitors. Also, 5-HT- and TG-induced responses were significantly attenuated in CaV1.2KO mice. Furthermore, hyperpolarization induced with cromakalim or valinomycin significantly reduced both 5-HT and TG responses, whereas these responses were enhanced with LTCC agonist Bay-K-8644. Interestingly, in situ proximity ligation assay revealed that CaV1.2 interacts with Orai1 and TRPC1 in untreated VSMC. These interactions enhanced significantly after stimulation of cells with 5-HT and TG. Therefore, these data indicate for the first time a functional interaction between Orai1, TRPC1, and CaV1.2 channels in VSMC, confirming that upon agonist stimulation, vessel contraction involves Ca2+ entry due to co-activation of Orai1- and TRPC1-dependent SOCC and LTCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Ávila-Medina
- From the Departamento de Fisiología Médica y Biofísica and Groupo de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Eva Calderón-Sánchez
- Groupo de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Francisco Monje-Quiroga
- the Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria, and
| | - Juan Antonio Rosado
- the Departamento de Fisiología, Universidad de Extremadura, 10071 Cáceres, Spain
| | | | - Antonio Ordóñez
- Groupo de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Tarik Smani
- From the Departamento de Fisiología Médica y Biofísica and Groupo de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Sevilla, Spain,
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Calderón-Sánchez E, Díaz I, Ordóñez A, Smani T. Urocortin-1 Mediated Cardioprotection Involves XIAP and CD40-Ligand Recovery: Role of EPAC2 and ERK1/2. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147375. [PMID: 26840743 PMCID: PMC4739601 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims Urocortin-1 (Ucn-1) is an endogenous peptide that protects heart from ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injuries. Ucn-1 is known to prevent cardiac cell death, but its role in the transcription of specific genes related to survival signaling pathway has not been fully defined. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular signaling implicated in the improvement of cardiac myocytes survival induced by Ucn-1. Methods and Results Ucn-1 administration before ischemia and at the onset of reperfusion, in rat hearts perfused in Langendorff system, fully recovered heart contractility and other hemodynamic parameters. Ucn-1 enhanced cell viability and decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in adult cardiac myocytes subjected to simulated I/R. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining indicated that Ucn-1 promoted cell survival and decreased cell necrosis through Epac2 (exchange protein directly activated by cAMP) and ERK1/2 (extracellular signal–regulated kinases 1/2) activation. We determined that Ucn-1 shifted cell death from necrosis to apoptosis and activated caspases 9 and 3/7. Furthermore, mini-array, RT-qPCR and protein analyses of apoptotic genes showed that Ucn-1 upregulated the expression of CD40lg, Xiap and BAD in cells undergoing I/R, involving Epac2 and ERK1/2 activation. Conclusions Our data indicate that Ucn-1 efficiently protected hearts from I/R damage by increasing the cell survival and stimulated apoptotic genes, CD40lg, Xiap and BAD, overexpression through the activation of Epac2 and ERK1/2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Calderón-Sánchez
- Grupo de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-IBiS, HUVR/Universidad de Sevilla/CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Ignacio Díaz
- Grupo de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-IBiS, HUVR/Universidad de Sevilla/CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Antonio Ordóñez
- Grupo de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-IBiS, HUVR/Universidad de Sevilla/CSIC, Seville, Spain
- * E-mail: (TS); (AO)
| | - Tarik Smani
- Grupo de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla-IBiS, HUVR/Universidad de Sevilla/CSIC, Seville, Spain
- Departamento de Fisiología Médica y Biofísica, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
- * E-mail: (TS); (AO)
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Chouridou E, Lambropoulou M, Koureta M, Zarouchlioti C, Balgouranidou I, Nena E, Papadopoulos N, Chatzaki E. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system localization in human fetal heart. Hormones (Athens) 2016; 15:54-64. [PMID: 30091054 DOI: 10.1007/bf03401403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family consists of the neuropeptides CRF, Ucn I, II and III and the binding sites CRFR1, CRFR2 and CRF-BP. It regulates stress response and the homeostasis of an organism. In this study, we examined the presence of the CRF system in the human hearts of normal and pathological fetuses. DESIGN Heart tissues from 40 archival human fetuses were divided into Group A (without pathology, 'normal'), Group B (with chromosomal abnormalities) and Group C (with congenital disorders). Immunohistochemistry was used to localize the CRF system. Results correlated to gestational trimester and pathology. RESULTS Immunoreactivity for all antigens was found in cardiac myocytes of all groups, in almost all samples, except Ucn III which was present in almost half of the fetuses of Groups B and C and was not detected at all in Group A. Ucn III was more often present during the earlier stage of development (<21 weeks) and in fetuses with congenital disorders. In a fetus diagnosed with heart pathology, all but Ucn III antigens were also present. CONCLUSIONS We localized a complete CRF system in the human fetal heart and correlated the presence of Ucn III to development and pathology. More studies are needed to verify and clarify the exact role of the CRF system in the human fetal heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efterpi Chouridou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, P.C. 68100, Greece
| | - Maria Lambropoulou
- Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Maria Koureta
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, P.C. 68100, Greece
| | - Christina Zarouchlioti
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, P.C. 68100, Greece
| | - Ioanna Balgouranidou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, P.C. 68100, Greece
| | - Evangelia Nena
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Papadopoulos
- Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Ekaterini Chatzaki
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, P.C. 68100, Greece.
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Hoffman JM, Baritaki S, Ruiz JJ, Sideri A, Pothoulakis C. Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor 2 Signaling Promotes Mucosal Repair Responses after Colitis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2015; 186:134-44. [PMID: 26597886 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2015.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Revised: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The corticotropin-releasing hormone family mediates functional responses in many organs, including the intestine. Activation of corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) in the colonic mucosa promotes inflammation during acute colitis but inhibits inflammation during chronic colitis. We hypothesized that specific modulation of CRHR2 signaling in the colonic mucosa can promote restoration of the epithelium through stimulation of cell proliferative, migratory, and wound healing responses. Mucosal repair was assessed after dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice receiving intracolonic injections of a CRHR2 antagonist or vehicle and in Crhr2(-/-) mice. Histologic damage, cytokine expression, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling, and Ki-67 immunoreactivity were evaluated. Cell viability, proliferation, and migration were compared between parental and CRHR2-overexpressing colonic epithelial cells. Protein lysates were processed for phosphoprotein assays and a wound healing assay performed in vitro. Administration of a CRHR2 antagonist after DSS-induced colitis increased disease activity, delayed healing, and decreased epithelial cell proliferation in vivo. Colons from these mice also showed increased apoptosis and proinflammatory cytokine expression. Compared with controls, Crhr2(-/-) mice showed increased mortality in the DSS healing protocol. CRHR2-overexpressing cells had increased proliferation and migration compared with parental cells. Wound healing and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activity were elevated in CRHR2-overexpressing cells after urocortin 2 and IL-6 treatment, suggesting advanced healing progression. Our results suggest that selective CRHR2 activation may provide a targeted approach to enhance mucosal repair pathways after colitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill M Hoffman
- Center for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Stavroula Baritaki
- Center for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jonathan J Ruiz
- Center for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Aristea Sideri
- Center for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Charalabos Pothoulakis
- Center for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
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Yang LZ, Zhu YC. Urocortin2 prolongs action potential duration and modulates potassium currents in guinea pig myocytes and HEK293 cells. Eur J Pharmacol 2015; 758:97-106. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2015.03.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2014] [Revised: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Adão R, Santos-Ribeiro D, Rademaker MT, Leite-Moreira AF, Brás-Silva C. Urocortin 2 in cardiovascular health and disease. Drug Discov Today 2015; 20:906-14. [PMID: 25748088 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2015.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2014] [Revised: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Adão
- Department of Physiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, Porto 4200-319, Portugal
| | - Diana Santos-Ribeiro
- Department of Physiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, Porto 4200-319, Portugal
| | - Miriam T Rademaker
- Christchurch Heart Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Adelino F Leite-Moreira
- Department of Physiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, Porto 4200-319, Portugal
| | - Carmen Brás-Silva
- 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.
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Targeting urocortin signaling pathways to enhance cardioprotection: is it time to move from bench to bedside? Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 2014; 27:451-63. [PMID: 23824484 DOI: 10.1007/s10557-013-6468-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Despite the exponential growth in medical knowledge, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) contribute to more than one-third of worldwide morbidity and mortality. A range of therapies already exist for established CVDs, although there is significant interest in further understanding their pathogenesis. The urocortins (Ucns) are peptide members of the corticotrophin-releasing factor family, a group of evolutionary conserved peptides with homologues in fish, amphibians and mammals and considered to play a pivotal role in energy homeostasis and local tissue repair. A number of preclinical studies in vitro, in-vivo and ex-vivo have defined a multifaceted effect of Ucns on the cardiovascular system. Different G-protein coupled signaling and protein-kinase pathways have been shown to be activated by Ucns, together with different transcriptional and translational effects, all of which preferentially converge on the mitochondria, where the modulation of apoptosis is considered their principal action. It has been demonstrated in experimental models, and consequentially suggested in human diseases, that Ucn-mediated inhibition of apoptosis can be exploited for the improvement of both therapeutic and preventative strategies against CVDs. Specifically, some unavoidable iatrogenic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries, e.g. during cardiac surgery or percutaneous coronary angioplasty, may greatly benefit from the anti-apoptotic effect of Ucns. However, few studies on the topic have been employed in humans to date. Therefore, this review will focus on the different intra-cellular mechanisms of action of Urocortins, and detail the different Ucn-mediated pathways identified so far. It will also highlight the limited evidence already existing in human clinical and surgical settings, as well as emphasize the potential uses of Ucns in human cardiac pathology.
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Mahajan S, Liao M, Barkan P, Takahashi K, Bhargava A. Urocortin 3 expression at baseline and during inflammation in the colon: corticotropin releasing factor receptors cross-talk. Peptides 2014; 54:58-66. [PMID: 24462512 PMCID: PMC4006935 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2014.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2013] [Revised: 01/11/2014] [Accepted: 01/13/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Urocortins (Ucn1-3), members of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family of neuropeptides, are emerging as potent immunomodulators. Localized, cellular expression of Ucn1 and Ucn2, but not Ucn3, has been demonstrated during inflammation. Here, we investigated the role of Ucn3 in a rat model of Crohn's colitis and the relative contribution of CRF receptors (CRF1 and CRF2) in regulating Ucn3 expression at baseline and during inflammation. Ucn3 mRNA and peptide were ubiquitously expressed throughout the GI tract in naïve rats. Ucn3 immunoreactivity was seen in epithelial cells and myenteric neurons. On day 1 of colitis, Ucn3 mRNA levels decreased by 80% and did not recover to baseline even by day 9. Next, we ascertained pro- or anti-inflammatory actions of Ucn3 during colitis. Surprisingly, unlike observed anti-inflammatory actions of Ucn1, exogenous Ucn3 did not alter histopathological outcomes during colitis and neither did it alter levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α. At baseline, colon-specific knockdown of CRF1, but not CRF2 decreased Ucn3 mRNA by 78%, whereas during colitis, Ucn3 mRNA levels increased after CRF1 knockdown. In cultured cells, co-expression of CRF1+CRF2 attenuated Ucn3-stimulated intracellular Ca(2+) peak by 48% as compared to cells expressing CRF2 alone. Phosphorylation of p38 kinase increased by 250% during colitis and was significantly attenuated after Ucn3 administration. Thus, our results suggest that a balanced and coordinated expression of CRF receptors is required for proper regulation of Ucn3 at baseline and during inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpi Mahajan
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Min Liao
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Paris Barkan
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Jefferson Medical College, 1025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA(1)
| | - Kazuhiro Takahashi
- Department of Endocrinology and Applied Medical Science, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Aditi Bhargava
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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Venkatasubramanian S, Griffiths ME, McLean SG, Miller MR, Luo R, Lang NN, Newby DE. Vascular effects of urocortins 2 and 3 in healthy volunteers. J Am Heart Assoc 2013; 2:e004267. [PMID: 23525432 PMCID: PMC3603262 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.112.004267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urocortin 2 and urocortin 3 are endogenous peptides with an emerging role in cardiovascular pathophysiology. We assessed their pharmacodynamic profile and examined the role of the endothelium in mediating their vasomotor effects in vivo in man. METHODS AND RESULTS Eighteen healthy male volunteers (23±4 years) were recruited into a series of double-blind, randomized crossover studies using bilateral forearm venous occlusion plethysmography during intra-arterial urocortin 2 (3.6 to 120 pmol/min), urocortin 3 (1.2 to 36 nmol/min), and substance P (2 to 8 pmol/min) in the presence or absence of inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (aspirin), cytochrome P450 metabolites of arachidonic acid (fluconazole), and nitric oxide synthase (L-NMMA). Urocortins 2 and 3 evoked arterial vasodilatation (P<0.0001) without tachyphylaxis but with a slow onset and offset of action. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with L-NMMA reduced vasodilatation to substance P and urocortin 2 (P≤0.001 for both) but had little effect on urocortin 3 (P>0.05). Neither aspirin nor fluconazole affected vasodilatation induced by any of the infusions (P>0.05 for all). In the presence of all 3 inhibitors, urocortin 2- and urocortin 3-induced vasodilatation was attenuated (P<0.001 for all) to a greater extent than with L-NMMA alone (P≤0.005). CONCLUSIONS Urocortins 2 and 3 cause potent and prolonged arterial vasodilatation without tachyphylaxis. These vasomotor responses are at least partly mediated by endothelial nitric oxide and cytochrome P450 metabolites of arachidonic acid. The role of urocortins 2 and 3 remains to be explored in the setting of human heart failure, but they have the potential to have major therapeutic benefits. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION http://www.clinicaltrials.gov//. Unique identifier: NCT01096706 and NCT01296607.
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Devetzis V, Zarogoulidis P, Kakolyris S, Vargemezis V, Chatzaki E. The corticotropin releasing factor system in the kidney: perspectives for novel therapeutic intervention in nephrology. Med Res Rev 2012; 33:847-72. [PMID: 22622997 DOI: 10.1002/med.21268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The adaptation to endogenous and exogenous stress stimuli is crucial for survival but also for the onset of various diseases in humans. Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) system is the major regulator of stress response and homeostasis. The members of this family of peptides extend their actions also outside CNS to the periphery where they may affect various body systems independently, acting via vagal and/or autocrine/paracrine pathways. In search for peripheral targets, kidney has rarely been studied separately, regarding expression and action of CRF and CRF-related peptides. We reviewed the existing literature concerning expression and action of the CRF system in normal and pathological renal tissue and explored possible clinical implications in nephrology. CRF system components are expressed in the kidney of experimental animals and in humans. The intrarenal distribution is reported to be equally extensive, suggesting a physiological or pathophysiological role in renal function and in the occurrence of renal disease. Urocortins have given multiple interesting observations in experimental models of renal disease and clinical studies, showing robust effects in renal regulation mechanisms. We summarize the relevant data and put them in context, proposing applications with clinical significance in the field of hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, chronic kidney disease, cardiorenal syndrome, and peritoneal dialysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vassilis Devetzis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
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Emeto TI, Moxon JV, Rush C, Woodward L, Golledge J. Relevance of urocortins to cardiovascular disease. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2011; 51:299-307. [PMID: 21689660 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2011.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2011] [Revised: 05/26/2011] [Accepted: 06/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Acquired cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease and related vascular problems contribute to more than one-third of worldwide morbidity and mortality. In many instances, particularly in the under developed world, cardiovascular diseases are diagnosed at a late stage limiting the scope for improving outcomes. A range of therapies already exist for established cardiovascular disease, although there is significant interest in further understanding disease pathogenesis in order to improve diagnosis and achieve primary and secondary therapeutic goals. The urocortins are a group of recently defined peptide members of the corticotrophin-releasing factor family. Previous pre-clinical work and human association studies suggest that urocortins have potential to exert some beneficial and other detrimental effects on the heart and major blood vessels. More current evidence however favours beneficial effects of urocortins, for example these peptides have been shown to inhibit production of reactive oxygen species and vascular cell apoptosis, and thus may have potential to antagonise the progression of cardiovascular disease. This review summarises published data on the potential role of urocortins in cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theophilus I Emeto
- Vascular Biology Unit, School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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