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Circulating Vasoactive Peptide Urotensin II and Relationships with Cardiovascular Disease

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Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Disease

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Abstract

The human vasoactive peptide urotensin II (UII) has been described as the most potent vasoconstrictor to date. Despite this, the vasoactive effects of UII have been demonstrated to be dependent on the vascular bed, the species type, and the presence of an endothelium. In recent years, several additional roles for UII in cardiovascular physiology and pathology have been established. UII has been implicated in the control of vascular tone and blood pressure as well as in cardiovascular disease states such as congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and pulmonary and systemic hypertension, among others. This chapter will provide an overview of what is currently known about the physiological and pathophysiological roles of urotensin II and urotensin II-related peptide in the cardiovascular system, with particular emphasis on the implications in cardiovascular disease and the potential application of UII as a disease biomarker.

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Abbreviations

5-HT:

5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin)

ACAT-1:

Acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase

ApoE:

Apolipoprotein E

CHF:

Congestive heart failure

CNS:

Central nervous system

CSF:

Cerebrospinal fluid

DAG:

Diacylglycerol

EDHF:

Endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor

EF:

Ejection fraction

GDP:

Guanosine diphosphate

GPCR:

G-protein coupled receptor

IL-6:

Interleukin 6

IP3 :

Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate

KO:

Knockout

LDL:

Low-density lipoprotein

LIMA:

Left internal mammary artery

MEK:

MAP kinase/ERK kinase 1

mRNA:

Messenger ribonucleic acid

NO:

Nitric oxide

PIP2 :

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate

PKC:

Protein kinase C

RT-PCR:

Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction

SHR:

Spontaneously hypertensive rats

TGF-β:

Transforming growth factor β

UII:

Urotensin II

URP:

Urotensin-related peptide

WKY:

Wistar Kyoto rats

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, McGill University Health Centre, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, H3G 1A4, QC, Canada

    Isabella Albanese

  2. Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, H3G 1A4, QC, Canada

    Adel Schwertani

Authors
  1. Isabella Albanese
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  2. Adel Schwertani
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adel Schwertani .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

  2. Sciences Division, King's College, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

Definitions

Atherosclerosis

Hardening of the arteries caused by plaque deposition on the inner walls, leading to the narrowing or closure of the arteries.

Cardiac Remodeling

Changes to the shape and structure of cardiovascular tissue in response to injury.

Cardiomyocyte

Cardiac muscle cell found within the walls of the heart.

Congestive Heart Failure

Weakening of the heart muscle that results in fluid accumulation in the lungs and surrounding tissue.

Ejection Fraction

The percentage of blood volume that is ejected from the blood with each contraction.

Endothelium

Single layer of cells surrounding various organs and openings (ex: blood vessels).

Hyperlipidemia

Abnormally high lipid content in the blood.

Hypertension

Abnormally high blood pressure.

Urotensin II

Neuropeptide with potent vasoconstrictive effects that has been implicated in several cardiovascular pathologies.

Vasoconstriction

The narrowing of blood vessels.

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Albanese, I., Schwertani, A. (2015). Circulating Vasoactive Peptide Urotensin II and Relationships with Cardiovascular Disease. In: Patel, V., Preedy, V. (eds) Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Disease. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7741-5_6-1

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