Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0020538 (hypertension)
 170,190 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Recent studies have revealed the importance of fish-derived peptide hormones to human endocrinology. These peptides include melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), urocortins (human urotensin-I), and urotensin-II. MCH, a hypothalamic peptide, is a potent stimulator on appetite. Urocortins, e.g. urocortin 1 and urocortin 3 (stresscopin), are endogenous ligands for the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptors, particularly CRF type 2 receptor, that mediates a vasodilator action, a positive inotropic action and a central appetite-inhibiting action. These actions mediated by CRF type 2 receptor may ameliorate the stress response. Human urotensin-II is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide, while it acts as a vasodilator on some arteries. Human urotensin-II is expressed in various types of cells and tissues, including cardiovascular tissues, as well as many types of tumor cells. Thus, these fish-derived peptides appear to play important roles in human physiology, such as appetite regulation, stress response and cardiovascular regulation, and also in diseases, for example, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and tumors. Development of antagonists/agonists against the receptors for these peptides may open new strategies for the treatment of various diseases, including obesity-related diseases, hypertension, heart failure and malignant tumors.
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PMID:Translational medicine in fish-derived peptides: from fish endocrinology to human physiology and diseases. 1500 3

Stresscopin (SCP or urocortin III), a member of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neuropeptide family, is a high-affinity ligand for the type 2 CRF receptor (CRF(2)). When administered peripherally, SCP suppresses food intake, delays gastric emptying and decreases heat-induced edema. Central administration of CRF produces marked hypertension and increased plasma catecholamine. However, the effects of SCP on the cardiovascular system are unknown. Thus, the present study compared the effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of CRF and SCP on cardiovascular function. Central administration of SCP (0.05 or 0.5 nmol) elicited transient increases in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and heart rate (HR), and the higher dose of SCP (0.5 nmol) resulted in increased plasma epinephrine. In contrast, central administration of CRF provoked long-lasting increases in MABP, HR and plasma catecholamine levels (norepinephrine and epinephrine). Intravenously administered CRF and SCP (0.5 nmol) did not elicit significant changes in MABP and HR. Therefore, these data suggest that centrally administered SCP modulates cardiovascular function, likely through the sympatho-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system.
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PMID:Central stresscopin modulates cardiovascular function through the adrenal medulla in conscious rats. 1509 97