Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8562, Japan.
Int J Endocrinol. 2012;2012:873723. doi: 10.1155/2012/873723. Epub 2012 May 13.
Urocortins (Ucns) are members of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family of peptides. Ucns would have potent effects on the cardiovascular system via the CRF receptor type 2 (CRF(2) receptor). Regulation and roles of each Ucn have been determined in the vascular system. Ucns have more potent vasodilatory effects than CRF. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) express Ucns1-3 mRNAs, and the receptor, CRF(2a) receptor mRNA. Ucns1-3 mRNA levels are differentially regulated in HUVECs. Differential regulation of Ucns may suggest differential roles of those in HUVECs. Ucn1 and Ucn2 have strong effects on interleukin (IL)-6 gene expression and secretion in rat aortic smooth muscle A7r5 cells. The increase that we observed in IL-6 levels following Ucn treatment of A7r5 cells suggests that smooth muscle cells may be a source of IL-6 secretion under physiological stress conditions. Ucns are important and unique modulators of vascular smooth muscle cells and act directly or indirectly as autocrine and paracrine factors in the vascular system.
尿皮质素（Ucns）是促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子（CRF）家族肽的成员。Ucns 通过 CRF 受体 2（CRF(2)受体）对心血管系统有很强的影响。在血管系统中已经确定了每种 Ucn 的调节和作用。Ucns 比 CRF 具有更强的血管舒张作用。人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVEC）表达 Ucns1-3 mRNA 和受体 CRF(2a)受体 mRNA。HUVEC 中 Ucns1-3 的 mRNA 水平受到差异调节。Ucns 的差异调节可能表明其在 HUVEC 中的作用不同。Ucn1 和 Ucn2 对大鼠主动脉平滑肌 A7r5 细胞中的白细胞介素（IL）-6 基因表达和分泌有强烈影响。我们观察到 Ucn 处理 A7r5 细胞后 IL-6 水平的增加表明，在生理应激条件下，平滑肌细胞可能是 IL-6 分泌的来源。Ucns 是血管平滑肌细胞的重要和独特调节剂，直接或间接地作为血管系统中的自分泌和旁分泌因子发挥作用。
