These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Urocortin protects against ischemic and reperfusion injury via a MAPK-dependent pathway.
    Author: Brar BK, Jonassen AK, Stephanou A, Santilli G, Railson J, Knight RA, Yellon DM, Latchman DS.
    Journal: J Biol Chem; 2000 Mar 24; 275(12):8508-14. PubMed ID: 10722688.
    Abstract:
    Urocortin (UCN) is a peptide related to hypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing hormone and binds with high affinity to corticotrophin-releasing hormone receptor-2beta, which is expressed in the heart. In this study, we report that UCN prevented cell death when administered to primary cardiac myocyte cultures both prior to simulated hypoxia/ischemia and at the point of reoxygenation after simulated hypoxia/ischemia. UCN-mediated cell survival was measured by trypan blue exclusion, 3'-OH end labeling of DNA (TUNEL), annexin V, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. To explore the mechanisms that could be responsible for this effect, we investigated the involvement of MAPK-dependent pathways. UCN caused rapid phosphorylation of ERK1/2-p42/44, and PD98059, which blocks the MEK1-ERK1/2-p42/44 cascade, also inhibited the survival-promoting effect of UCN. Most important, UCN reduced damage in isolated rat hearts ex vivo subjected to regional ischemia/reperfusion, with the protective effect being observed when UCN was given either prior to ischemia or at the time of reperfusion after ischemia. This suggests a novel function of UCN as a cardioprotective agent that could act when given after ischemia, at reperfusion.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]