Urotensin-II in the lung: A matter for vascular remodelling and pulmonary hypertension?

Talija Djordjevic; Agnes Görlach

doi:10.1160/TH07-04-0294

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2007; 98(05): 952-962
DOI: 10.1160/TH07-04-0294

Theme Issue Article

Schattauer GmbH

Urotensin-II in the lung: A matter for vascular remodelling and pulmonary hypertension?

Talija Djordjevic

¹Experimental Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Diseases, German Heart Center Munich at the Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany

,

Agnes Görlach

¹Experimental Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Diseases, German Heart Center Munich at the Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

Urotensin-II (UII) is an evolutionary conserved peptide which has been initially discovered in the urophysis of the fish goby regulating body fluid composition and vascular tone. Mammalian UII has gained increasing interest since it has been considered as an even more potent vasoconstrictor than endothelin-1, although its efficiency is greatly variable throughout species and vascular beds. More recently, it has been shown that UII, which mediates its action via binding to the G-protein coupled urotensin-II receptor, is not only involved in the regulation of the vascular tone but can also stimulate a variety of signaling cascades in different cells and organs in the body including generation of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide, activation of MAP kinases, and modulation of gene expression. Indeed, UII can stimulate proliferative processes, affect the extracellular matrix and may even add to a prothrombotic state. Such vascular remodelling processes are, in conjunction with enhanced vasoconstriction, involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension, suggesting that UII may play a novel role in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Keywords

Urotensin-II - oxidative stress - signal transduction - vascular remodeling - pulmonary hypertension

Full Text

References

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