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Urocortins in heart failure

Sowmya Venkatasubramanian1, David E Newby, Ninian N Lang

  • 1Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, SU. 305, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, United Kingdom. s.venkat@ed.ac.uk

Biochemical Pharmacology
|April 6, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Urocortins, peptides acting via corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) receptors, show promise for treating heart failure. Their beneficial cardiovascular effects, including vasodilation and improved heart function, are increasingly recognized in disease states.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Medicine

Background:

  • Heart disease and heart failure are leading causes of mortality.
  • Novel peptides are emerging as potential biomarkers and therapeutics for cardiovascular conditions.
  • Urocortins are a class of peptides with increasingly recognized roles in cardiovascular health and disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of urocortins in normal cardiovascular physiology.
  • To examine the involvement of urocortins in the pathophysiology of heart failure.
  • To highlight urocortins as potential therapeutic targets for heart failure.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature on urocortins and cardiovascular function.
  • Analysis of studies investigating urocortin signaling pathways (corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors).
  • Examination of experimental and clinical data on urocortin activity in heart failure models.

Main Results:

  • Urocortins exert cardiovascular effects through corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) receptors and intracellular signaling.
  • Urocortins demonstrate favorable hemodynamic and neurohumoral regulatory effects.
  • Observed vascular relaxation and positive inotropic, chronotropic, and lusitropic effects on the heart.

Conclusions:

  • Urocortins possess properties that make them attractive therapeutic targets for heart failure.
  • Increased urocortin activity is noted in experimental and clinical heart failure, with augmented responses.
  • Further research into urocortins may lead to novel treatments for cardiovascular diseases.

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