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Lin W, Yang X, Zheng F, Yang J, Zhang Y. Smad2/3 signaling involved in urotensin II-induced phenotypic differentiation, collagen synthesis and migration of rat aortic adventitial fibroblasts. Ital J Med 2023; 17. [DOI: 10.4081/itjm.2023.1637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective. To investigate whether Smad2/3 signaling is involved in urotensin II (UII) induced activation of aortic adventitial fibroblasts. Materials and Methods. Growth-arrested adventitial fibroblasts were stimulated with UII in the presence or absence of urotensin II receptor (UT) antagonist SB710411 or transfected with Smad2/3 small inhibitory RNA (siRNA). UII stimulated Smad2/3 phosphorylation, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and collagen I expression and migration of adventitial fibroblasts were evaluated by western blot analysis, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, ELISA, and transwell migration assay, respectively. Results. In cultured adventitial fibroblasts, UII time- and dose-dependently stimulated Smad2/3 protein phosphorylation, with maximal effect at 10-8 mol/l (increased by 147.2%, P<0.001). UII stimulated Smad2/3 upregulation and nuclear translocation. SB710411 significantly inhibited these effects. In addition, UII potently induced α-SMA and procollagen 1 protein or mRNA expression (P<0.01), which were completely blocked by Smad2 (decreased by 75.1%, 54.2% in protein, and by 73.3% and 38.2% in mRNA, respectively, P<0.01) or Smad3 siRNA (decreased by 80.3% and 47.0% in protein, and by 72.3% and 47.7% in mRNA, respectively, P<0.01). Meanwhile, Smad2 or smad3 siRNA significantly inhibited the UII-induced collagen 1 secretion and cell migration. Conclusions. UII may stimulate adventitial-fibroblast phenotype conversion, migration, and collagen I synthesis via phosphorylated-Smad2/3 signal transduction pathways.
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Li J, Luo L, Zhang Y, Dong X, Dang S, Guo X, Ding W. Globular adiponectin-mediated vascular remodeling by affecting the secretion of adventitial-derived tumor necrosis factor-α induced by urotensin II. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2022; 23:1014-1027. [PMID: 36518054 PMCID: PMC9758717 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b2200346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In this study, we explored how adiponectin mediated urotensin II (UII)-induced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression and ensuing intracellular signaling pathways in adventitial fibroblasts (AFs). METHODS Growth-arrested AFs and rat tunica adventitia of vessels were incubated with UII and inhibitors of signal transduction pathways for 1‒24 h. The cells were then harvested for TNF-α receptor (TNF-α-R) messenger RNA (mRNA) and TNF-α protein expression determination by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Adiponectin and adiponectin receptor (adipoR) expression was measured by RT-PCR, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), immunohistochemical analysis, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) cell proliferation experiments. We then quantified TNF-α and α-SMA mRNA and protein expression levels by qPCR and immunofluorescence (IF) staining. RNA interference (RNAi) was used to explore the function of the adipoR genes. To investigate the signaling pathway, we applied western blotting (WB) to examine phosphorylation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In vivo, an adiponectin (APN)-knockout (APN-KO) mouse model mimicking adventitial inflammation was generated to measure TNF-α and α-SMA expression by application of qPCR and IF, with the goal of gaining a comprehensive atlas of adiponectin in vascular remodeling. RESULTS In both cells and tissues, UII promoted TNF-α protein and TNF-α-R secretion in a dose- and time-dependent manner via Rho/protein kinase C (PKC) pathway. We detected marked expression of adipoR1, T-cadherin, and calreticulin as well as a moderate presence of adipoR2 in AFs, while no adiponectin was observed. Globular adiponectin (gAd) fostered the growth of AFs, and acted in concert with UII to induce α-SMA and TNF-α through the adipoR1/T-cadherin/calreticulin/AMPK pathway. In AFs, gAd and UII synergistically induced AMPK phosphorylation. In the adventitial inflammation model, APN deficiency up-regulated the expression of α-SMA, UII receptor (UT), and UII while inhibiting TNF-α expression. CONCLUSIONS From the results of our study, we can speculate that UII induces TNF-α protein and TNF-α-R secretion in AFs and rat tunica adventitia of vessels via the Rho and PKC signal transduction pathways. Thus, it is plausible that adiponectin is a major player in adventitial progression and could serve as a novel therapeutic target for cardiovascular disease administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Limin Luo
- Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Yonggang Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Xiao Dong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Shuyi Dang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Xiaogang Guo
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Wenhui Ding
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
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Guler EM, Gokce M, Bacaksiz A, Kocyigit A. Urotensin-II, oxidative stress, and inflammation increase in hypertensive and resistant hypertensive patients. Clin Exp Hypertens 2020; 43:211-216. [PMID: 33172302 DOI: 10.1080/10641963.2020.1847128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Hypertension is a multi-factorial process prevalent in developed as well as in developing countries. Urotensin-II, different antioxidants, free radicals, and inflammatory biomarkers play an essential role in the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study is to investigate Urotensin-II, oxidative stress, and inflammation markers in normotensive, hypertensive, and resistant hypertensive patients. Methods: Fifty resistance hypertensive (rHT) patients, 50 hypertensive patients, and 50 age gender matched normotensive controls (NT-control) were enrolled. Urotensin-II (UII), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), native thiol (NT), total thiol (TT), disulfide (DIS), interleukin 1 beta (IL1β), interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), high sensitive c reactive protein (hsCRP), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and total cholesterol (TC) were evaluated. Results: Serum levels of UII, IL1β, IL6, TNFα, DIS, TOS, and OSI were found higher in rHT and HT as compared to NT-control (p < .001). On the contrary, serum levels of TT, TAS, and NT were lower in rHT and HT as compared to NT-control (p < .001). While TC, hsCRP, TOS, OSI, UII, IL1β, IL6, and TNFα levels increase from HT to rHT group (p < .001); TAS and NT levels decrease from HT to rHT group (p < .001). Conclusions: UII levels, oxidative stress, and inflammation are higher in rHT and HT, while antioxidants and thiol levels are lower than the NT-control. Our study clearly showed that rHT and HT are more susceptible to impaired states of antioxidants, oxidative stress, and free radicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eray Metin Guler
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Bezmialem Vakif University School of Medicine , Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Gokce
- Department of Pharmacology, Bezmialem Vakif University School of Pharmacy , Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Bacaksiz
- Department of Cardiology, Bezmialem Vakif University School of Medicine , Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Abdurrahim Kocyigit
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Bezmialem Vakif University School of Medicine , Istanbul, Turkey
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Zhao Y, Fang S, Que K, Xu G, Zhang H, Qi C, Yang N. Urotensin-II gene rs228648 polymorphism associated with the risk of diabetes mellitus. Biosci Rep 2018; 38:BSR20181275. [PMID: 30442870 DOI: 10.1042/BSR20181275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Urotensin-II (UII) rs228648 polymorphism has been reported to be associated with the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) with inconsistent results. The present study sought to reassess the relationship between this polymorphism and susceptibility to DM by meta-analysis. Methods: Relevant eligible studies and whole genome association study (GWAS) data electronically searched were pooled to evaluate the strength of the association with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Seven case–control studies involving 894 cases and 1186 controls were finally included in the meta-analysis. Overall analyses indicated that UII gene rs228648 variant was significantly associated with reduced risk of DM (allele, A vs. G: OR = 0.68, 95%CI = 0.56–0.82; dominant, AA+GA vs. GG: OR = 0.70, 95%CI = 0.53–0.91; homozygote, AA vs. GG: OR = 0.41, 95%CI = 0.28–0.61; recessive, AA vs. GA+GG: OR = 0.36, 95%CI = 0.19–0.71). In subgroup analyses based on ethnicity, the results showed a significant association of rs228648 polymorphism with decreased risk of DM in Chinese population under all five genetic models as well as in non-Chinese population under heterozygote and recessive models. Stratified analyses by specific type of DM also presented a significant association for common diabetes mellitus (CDM) under allele and homozygote as well as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) under all genetic models except for homozygote model. However, the synthetic analysis with GWAS data suggested an increased risk of DM with rs228648 effect allele in European population (OR = 1.01, 95%CI = 1.00–1.02). Conclusion: The present meta-analysis preliminarily suggested a potentially opposite role of rs228648 polymorphism associated with DM risk in the Chinese and European population. Further studies are in great request to verify the results.
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Li J, Zhang YG, Luo LM, Dong X, Ding WH, Dang SY. Urotensin II promotes aldosterone expression in rat aortic adventitial fibroblasts. Mol Med Rep 2018; 17:2921-2928. [PMID: 29257277 PMCID: PMC5783511 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.8233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Urotensin II (UII) contributes to cardiovascular diseases by activating vasoactive peptides. The present study aimed to determine the effect of UII on aldosterone (ALD) and its receptor in cultured adventitial fibroblasts (AFs) and the tunica adventitia of rat vessels to explore the possible mechanisms underlying vascular remodeling. Expression levels of aldosterone and its receptor on tunica adventitia were determined using immunohistochemistry. Growth‑arrested AFs and tunica adventitia from rat vessels were incubated with UII and inhibitors of various signal transduction pathways. ALD receptor (ALD‑R) mRNA expression levels and ALD protein exoression levels were determined by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and ELISA, respectively. Aldosterone and its receptors were expressed on tunica adventitia. UII promoted ALD protein secretion from cells in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner. ALD‑R mRNA expression in cells was also dysregulated. Furthermore, the effects of UII were substantially inhibited by treatment with the inhibitors PD98059, Y‑27632, H‑7, CSA and nicardipine. These results were further verified in the tunica adventitia of rat vessels. The present findings indicated that UII stimulated ALD protein secretion and ALD‑R mRNA expression in AFs and in the tunica adventitia of rat vessels; moreover, this effect may be mediated by signal transduction pathways involving MAPK, Rho, PKC, calcineurin and Ca2+. UII may also contribute to vascular remodeling by stimulating the production of ALD and its receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, P.R. China
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, P.R. China
| | - Yong-Gang Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, P.R. China
| | - Li-Min Luo
- Department of Dermatology, Dongfeng General Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, P.R. China
| | - Xiao Dong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Hui Ding
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, P.R. China
- Correspondence to: Professor Wen-Hui Ding, Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, 8 Xishikudajie, Beijing 100034, P.R. China, E-mail:
| | - Shu-Yi Dang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, P.R. China
- Professor Shu-Yi Dang, Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 32 South People's Road, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, P.R. China, E-mail:
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Zhao J, Ding WH, Chu SY, Jiang J, Zhou J, Xia YL, Wu L. Role ofUTS2gene in the genetic susceptibility to atrial fibrillation in the Chinese population. Postgrad Med J 2016; 92:201-7. [DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2015-133699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Abstract
Urotensin II (UII) is a cyclic peptide that was originally extracted from the caudal neurosecretory system (CNSS) of fish. UII is well known to exhibit cardiovascular, ventilatory, and motor effects in vertebrates. Studies have reported that UII exerts mitogenic effects and can act as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor in mammals. However, similar information in fish is limited. In this study, the full-length cDNAs of UII and its receptor (UT) were cloned and characterized in the orange-spotted grouper. UII and UT were expressed ubiquitously in various tissues in grouper, and particularly high levels were observed in the CNSS, CNS, and ovary. A functional study showed that UT was coupled with intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in HEK293 cells. Studies carried out using i.p. injections of UII in grouper showed the following: i) in the hypothalamus, UII can significantly stimulate the mRNA expression of ghrh and simultaneously inhibit the mRNA expression of somatostatin 1 (ss1) and ss2 3 h after injection; ii) in the pituitary, UII also significantly induced the mRNA expression of gh 6 and 12 h after injection; and iii) in the liver, the mRNA expression levels of ghr1/ghr2 and igf1/igf2 were markedly increased 12 and 3 h after the i.p. injection of UII respectively. These results collectively indicate that the UII/UT system may play a role in the promotion of the growth of the orange-spotted grouper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiyun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 135, XinGang West Road, Guangzhou 510275, People's Republic of China
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Abstract
Urotensin-Ⅱ (U-Ⅱ) is a somatostatin-like cyclic peptide which has a potent vasoactive effect and can promote vascular reconstruction and hyperplasia. Research shows that UⅡ plays an important role in the development of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. UⅡ influences intrahepatic resistance and splanchnic hemodynamics through a variety of pathways, causing portal hypertension and participating in the formation of esophageal and gastric varices. UⅡ receptor antagonists can reduce portal pressure in cirrhotic rats, but this finding need to be confirmed clinically.
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Dong X, Ye X, Song N, Zhao J, Di B, Peng F, Tang C, Ding W. Urotensin II promotes the production of LTC4 in rat aortic adventitial fibroblasts through NF-κB-5-LO pathway by p38 MAPK and ERK activations. Heart Vessels 2012; 28:514-23. [PMID: 23053343 DOI: 10.1007/s00380-012-0291-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2012] [Accepted: 09/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Adventitia is the outer part of the arterial wall where the inflammatory response often occurs. Urotensin II (UII) is a potent vasoconstrictive peptide that also promotes the inflammatory process in patients with cardiovascular disease. Leukotriene C4 (LTC4), a lipid mediator, was recently found to play a role in the inflammatory process in the artery. We hypothesized that the adventitia is one of the resources of LTC4 and that UII may promote LTC4 production through the 5-LO (5-lipoxygenase) pathway in adventitial fibroblasts. Rat adventitial fibroblasts were isolated and incubated in serum-free medium with either UII alone or in combination with inhibitors of p38 MAPK, ERK, and UII receptors. The expression of 5-LO was detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. The translocation and binding activity of nuclear factor (NF)-κB were measured using immunofluorescence and electrophoretic mobility shift assay, respectively. The production of LTC4 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results indicated that: (1) adventitial fibroblasts were a source of LTC4 production; (2) UII increased the expression of the 5-LO mRNA and the protein by NF-κB activation through p38 MAPK and ERK pathways; and (3) UII promoted the LTC4 release in fibroblasts through the 5-LO pathway by p38 MAPK and ERK activations. The 5-LO pathway mediates LTC4 production, which may be a new mechanism in the pathogenesis of the vascular adventitial inflammation caused by UII.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Dong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Xishikudajie #8, West District, Beijing, 10034, People's Republic of China
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Zhang YG, Kuang ZJ, Mao YY, Wei RH, Bao SL, Wu LB, Li YG, Tang CS. Osteopontin is involved in urotensin II-induced migration of rat aortic adventitial fibroblasts. Peptides 2011; 32:2452-8. [PMID: 22036853 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2011.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2010] [Revised: 10/15/2011] [Accepted: 10/16/2011] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that both osteopontin and urotensin II (UII) play critical roles in vascular remodeling. We previously showed that UII could stimulate the migration of aortic adventitial fibroblasts. In this study, we examined whether osteopontin is involved in UII-induced migration of rat aortic adventitial fibroblasts and examined the effects and mechanisms of UII on osteopontin expression in adventitial fibroblasts. Migration of adventitial fibroblasts induced by UII could be inhibited significantly by osteopontin antisense oligonucleotide (P<0.01) but not sense or mismatch oligonucleotides (P>0.05). Moreover, UII dose- and time-dependently promoted osteopontin mRNA expression and protein secretion in the cells, with maximal effect at 10(-8)mol/l at 3h for mRNA expression or at 12h for protein secretion (both P<0.01). Furthermore, the UII effects were significantly inhibited by its receptor antagonist SB710411 (10(-6)mol/l), and Ca(2+) channel blocker nicardipine (10(-5)mol/l), protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor H7 (10(-5)mol/l), calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporine A (10(-5)mol/l), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor PD98059 (10(-5)mol/l) and Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 (10(-5)mol/l). Thus, osteopontin is involved in the UII-induced migration of adventitial fibroblasts, and UII could upregulate osteopontin gene expression and protein synthesis in rat aortic adventitial fibroblasts by activating its receptor and the Ca(2+) channel, PKC, calcineurin, MAPK and Rho kinase signal transduction pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Gang Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
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Liu DG, Wang Y. Advances in understanding the role of the UII/UT system in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2010; 18:3332-3337. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v18.i31.3332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Urotensin II (UII), a vasoactive peptide with structural similarity to somatostatin, is the most potent vasoconstrictor known in systemic resistance vessels and has multiple biological effects related to a variety of human diseases. Numerous studies have found that UII and its receptor (UT) play an important role in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension. This paper reviews the recent advances in understanding the role of the UII/UT system in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension.
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Albertin G, Guidolin D, Sorato E, Spinazzi R, Mascarin A, Oselladore B, Montopoli M, Antonello M, Ribatti D. Pro-angiogenic activity of Urotensin-II on different human vascular endothelial cell populations. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC. 2009;157:64-71. [PMID: 19362580 DOI: 10.1016/j.regpep.2009.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2009] [Revised: 04/03/2009] [Accepted: 04/05/2009] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Urotensin-II (U-II), along its receptor UT, is widely expressed in the cardiovascular system, where it exerts regulatory actions under both physiological and pathological conditions. In the present study, human vascular endothelial cells (EC) from one arterious and three venous vascular beds were used to investigate in vitro their heterogeneity in terms of expression of U-II and UT and of angiogenic response to the peptide. Real-time PCR and immunocytochemistry demonstrated the expression of UT, as mRNA and protein, in all the EC populations investigated. U-II, on the contrary, was detectable only in EC from aorta and umbilical vein. U-II did not affect the proliferation rate of adult human EC, but induced a moderate proliferative effect on EC from human umbilical vein. When tested in the Matrigel assay, however, all EC exhibited a strong angiogenic response to the peptide, comparable to that of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and it was not associated to an increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and/or its receptors. The angiogenic effect of U-II was abolished by the UT antagonist palosuran. Overall, these data suggest that U-II, in addition to the well known role in the regulation of cardiovascular function, also exert a specific angiogenic activity.
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