Sa. Douglas et al., Human urotensin-II is a potent vasoactive peptide: Pharmacological characterization in the rat, mouse, dog and primate, J CARDIO PH, 36, 2000, pp. S163-S166
Citations number
17
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
The observation that the novel G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) GPR14 and
its cognate ligand, urotensin-II (U-II), are expressed within the mammalian
vasculature raises the possibility that they may influence cardiohemodynam
ic humeostasis. To this end, this study examined the vasoactive properties
of U-II in rodents, dogs and primates. In vitro, human U-II was a sustained
vasoconstrictor with a potency (pD(2)s less than or equal to 9) approximat
ely an order of magnitude greater than that seen with endothelin-1 (ET-1),
making it one of the roost, if not the most, potent mammalian vasoconstrict
or identified to date. However, in vitro responses exhibited significant an
atomical and/or species-dependency, that is, human U-II was a selective 'ao
rto-coronary' vasoconstrictor in rats and dogs, inactive in mice and contra
cted all primate arteries studied. In vivo, this peptide evoked a complex,
dose-dependent hemodynamic response in the anesthetized primate, culminatin
g in severe myocardial depression and fatal circulatory collapse. As such,
U-II may represent a novel neurohumoral regulator of mammalian cardiovascul
ar physiology and pathology in particular disorders characterized by aberra
nt vascular smooth muscle and/or myocardial function.