Urotensin II, from fish to human

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Endocrinology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Urotensin II (UII) is a cyclic peptide initially identified for its smooth muscle contracting properties.
• UII and a related peptide (URP) have been found across various species, including mammals and humans.
• UII and URP share an evolutionary origin with somatostatin and cortistatin.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role and distribution of UII and URP in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral organs.
• To understand the signaling pathway of UII and URP through their specific receptor.
• To explore the diverse physiological functions regulated by the UII/URP system.

Main Methods:

• Characterization of pre-proUII cDNA in mammals.
• Identification of UII-related peptide (URP) in rat brain.
• Analysis of UT receptor expression in CNS and peripheral tissues.

Main Results:

• UII is primarily expressed in motoneurons within the CNS of tetrapods.
• The UII and URP biological actions are mediated by the G protein-coupled receptor, UT.
• UT receptor shows high sequence similarity to somatostatin receptors and is widely distributed.
• UII and URP regulate a broad spectrum of functions including behavioral, endocrine, cardiovascular, renal, and immune activities.

Conclusions:

• The UII/URP system, acting through the UT receptor, plays a significant role in regulating diverse physiological processes.
• The widespread expression of UT suggests a fundamental role for UII and URP in maintaining homeostasis.
• Further research into the UII/URP system could reveal novel therapeutic targets.