Atherosclerosis ; Humans ; Urotensins

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated changes in urotensin-II (U-II) and endocan levels which can be used as an early biological marker of endothelial injury in the episode and remission phases of bipolar affective disorder (BAD). METHODS: We compared endocan and U-II levels, which has been shown to be closely associated with neurotransmitter systems in addition to continuity of endothelial structure and inflammatory response, in patients with BAD in remission for at least one year (n=42) and in patients still in manic or depressive episodes (n=16) with healthy controls (n=30). RESULTS: Both endocan and U-II levels were significantly higher in the bipolar patients than in the controls. Endocan and U-II levels were also significantly correlated with one another (p=0.000, r=0.833). Both endocan (p=0.000) and U-II levels (p=0.000) were significantly higher in the bipolar attack group compared to the subjects in remission, and in the remission group compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: In this study we determined significantly higher endocan and U-II levels in BAD compared to the controls, while serum endocan and U-II levels of patients undergoing attacks were also significantly higher than those of the controls and also those of patients in remission.
Biomarkers ; Bipolar Disorder ; Humans ; Mood Disorders ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Urotensins

AIMTo investigate the effects of human urotensin II (hUII) on in vivo pia mater microcirculation in rats.

METHODSAdult SD rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: control, sodium chloride injection (NS), UII(10(-6) mol/L), noradrenaline (NA, 10(-6) mol/L), and UII (10(-6) mol/L) + NA (10(-6) mol/L) groups. For recording of microcirculation images in pia mater, skull windows were performed and mounted on the stage of an intravital microscope equipped with a TV camera. Video images of microcirculation were stored by a video cassette recorder. Temporal changes in internal diameter and microcirculatory velocity of microvessels were measured by computer using the Image Pro software. The blood flow in cerebral tissues were measured with PIMII laser Doppler perfusion Imager (Lisca, Sweden).

RESULTSThe internal diameters of arterioles and venules in control group were (35.4 +/- 3.6) microm and (40.6 +/- 8.5) microm, respectively. In UII group, the arterioles and venules contracted immediately after treated with UII and up to the peak at 1 min, the internal diameters of arterioles and venules were (25.6 +/- 3.4) microm and (23.4 +/- 3.3) microm, respectively (P < 0.05). Both microcirculatory velocity in arterioles and venules had no significant changes in UII group (P > 0.05). The blood flow in meninges increased 1 min after treated with UII and up to high peak at 5 min (3.5 +/- 0.4 perfusion unit vs. control 2.3 +/- 0.6, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONhUII can contract microvessels in pia mater of rats and increase microcirculatory blood perfusion to cerebral tissue involved.

Animals ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Microcirculation ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urotensins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the differences in the clinical therapeutic effects on cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (CSA) between the modified acupuncture and the routine acupuncture at unilateral/bilateral Renying (ST 9) as well as the impacts on the concentrations of plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) and urotensinⅡ(UⅡ) in the patients.

METHODSA total of 160 patients were divided into a modified bilateral acupuncture group, a modified unilateral acupuncture group, a routine bilateral acupuncture group and a routine unilateral acupuncture group, 40 cases in each one according to the random number table. In the modified bilateral acupuncture group, the modified acupuncture was applied bilaterally to Renying (ST 9). In the modified unilateral acupuncture group, the modified acupuncture was applied unilaterally to Renying (ST 9). In the routine bilateral acupuncture group, the routine acupuncture was applied bilaterally to Renying (ST 9). In the routine unilateral acupuncture group, the routine acupuncture was applied unilaterally to Renying (ST 9). The treatment was given once every day, continuously for 6 days as one course. Two courses of treatment were required at the interval of 1 day. In each group, before and after treatment, we observed the peak systolic blood flow velocity (Vs) of the vertebral artery (VA) and the basilar artery (BA), cervical vertigo symptoms and functional assessment scales (ESCV) and the concentration of plasma NPY and UⅡ. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared among the groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the clinical therapeutic effect in the modified bilateral acupuncture group was 90.0% (36/40), which was better than 80.0% (32/40) in the modified unilateral acupuncture group, 77.5% (35/40) in the routine bilateral acupuncture group and 65.0% (26/40) in the routine unilateral acupuncture group (all <0.05). After treatment, Vs of VA and BA was improved remarkably in every group (all <0.01), and the result in the modified bilateral acupuncture group was higher than those in the other groups (all <0.01). After treatment, ESCV scores were all increased remarkably in every group (all <0.01). ESCV score and improvement index in the modified bilateral acupuncture group were all higher than those in the other groups (<0.05, <0.01). After treatment, the concentrations of plasma NPY and UⅡ were all reduced remarkably in every group (all <0.01) and the differences were significant among the groups (all <0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe modified bilateral acupuncture at Renying (ST 9) effectively regulates the blood supply of the vertebral basilar artery and improves the cerebral circulation. The effects are superior to those of the unilateral acupuncture at Renying (ST 9).

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Neuropeptide Y ; blood ; Spondylosis ; blood ; therapy ; Urotensins ; blood ; Vertebral Artery

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of human urotensin II (HU II) on secretion of adrenomedullin (ADM) from human vascular endothelial cells (HVEC) and its mechanism.

METHODSIn cultured HVEC, different concentrations of HUII were used to stimulate the ADM secretion from HVEC, and the inhibitors of different signal transduction pathway were used to investigate their effects on ADM secretion. The contents of ADM in medium were determined by radio immunoassay.

RESULTSHUII stimulated secretion of ADM from HVEC in a time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner. The contents of ADM in the experiment groups were changed compared with that in control group (P < 0.05). The increase of ADM could be inhibited by inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (PD(98059)), inhibitor of P38 kinase (SB(202190)), inhibitor of calmodulin (W(7)) and inhibitor of Ca(2+) (nicardipine) (P < 0.05). The inhibition ratio in those groups was 68%, 78%, 24% and 25% respectively. But the inhibitor of Calcineurin (CaN) and inhibitor of protein kinase C (H(7)) had no influence on the secretion of ADM from HVEC (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe stimulated effect of HUII on the ADM secretion from HVEC may be mediated by Ca(2+), ERKs, CaM-PK and P38 signal transduction pathways.

Adrenomedullin ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Signaling ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; secretion ; Humans ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Urotensins ; pharmacology

AIMTo study human urotensin II (hUII) expression in intrapulmonary arteries of rats with pulmonary hypertension induced by high pulmonary blood flow and explore the role of hU II in the development of pulmonary hypertension induced by left to right shunt.

METHODSAortocaval shunting was produced for 11 weeks in rats. Pulmonary artery mean pressure (PAMP) of each rat was evaluated using right cardiac catheterization. The pulmonary vascular structural changes, including the percentage of muscularized arteries of small pulmonary vessels and relative medial thickness of intra-acinar pulmonary arteries were examined. Meanwhile, the expression of hU II by pulmonary arteries was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSAfter 11-week aortocaval shunting, PAMP was significantly increased. The percentage of muscularized arteries of small pulmonary vessels and relative medial thickness of pulmonary arteries were obviously increased in shunting rats compared with controls (P < 0.01, respectively). Meanwhile, hU II expression by pulmonary artery endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells was significantly augmented in rats of shunt group, which was positively correlated with PAMP and the structural changes in pulmonary arteries.

CONCLUSIONThe up-regulation of hU II in pulmonary arteries might be involved in the development of pulmonary vascular structural remodeling and pulmonary hypertension induced by high pulmonary blood flow.

Animals ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Pulmonary Circulation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urotensins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the role of urotension-II in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in the process of airway remodelling in asthmatic rats.

METHODSThirty-two male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal control and 2-week, 4-week and 8-week asthmatic groups (OVA inhalation of 2, 4 and 8 weeks respectively). Rats were sensitized and challenged by OVA to establish a model of asthma. The bronchial wall thickness and the airway smooth muscle thickness were measured by image analysis system. The urotension-II contents in serum and BALF were determined using ELISA.

RESULTSThe bronchial wall thickness and the airway smooth muscle thickness in the three asthmatic groups significantly increased compared with those in the normal control group (P<0.01). The urotension-II contents in serum and BALF in the three asthmatic groups also increased significantly compared with those in the normal control group (P<0.01). The urotension-II contents in serum and BALF in the 8-week asthmatic group were the highest, followed by the 4-week and the 2-week asthmatic groups (P<0.01). BALF urotension-II contents were positively correlated with the bronchial wall thickness and the airway smooth muscle thickness as well as serum U-II contents in the four groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe urotension-II contents in serum and BALF in the process of airway remodeling increase in asthmatic rats. The changes in serum and BALF urotension-II contents may be associated with airway remodeling in asthmatic rats.

Airway Remodeling ; Animals ; Asthma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Bronchi ; pathology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urotensins ; analysis ; blood

AIMTo observe the direct effect of urotensin II (U II) on the release of nitric oxide (NO) and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

METHODSHUVEC were cultured with different concentrations of U II (10(-9)-10(-7) mol/L) for 24 hours. Then the supernatant was collected to detect the level of NO and the activity of iNOS, the expression of iNOS mRNA of HUVEC was measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSIn comparison with controls, the level of NO, the activity of iNOS and the iNOS mRNA expression increased significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONU II may up-regulate the expression of iNOS mRNA and increase NO generation in HUVEC, it suggests that U II may relax blood vessel by activating iNOS/NO pathway.

Cells, Cultured ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Urotensins ; pharmacology

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of urotensin II (U II) on the nitric oxide (NO) production in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. The endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression was assessed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and NO content in cardiomyocytes were measured. The current results showed that U inhibited eNOS mRNA expression, the NOS activity and the NO production of cardiomyocytes. U II (0.1 micromol/L) inhibited the NOS activity and the NO production in cardiomyocytes in a time-dependent manner. These results suggest that the cardiovascular effect of U II might be partially associated with NO production in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Rats ; Urotensins ; pharmacology

AIMTo observe the expression of Urotensin II (U II) and its receptor (UT) on right ventricle in rats with chronic pulmonary hypertension induced by hypoxia and hypercapnia.

METHODSTwenty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NC) and hypoxia-hypercapnia 4-week group(HH). Mean pulmonary arterial pressure(MPAP) and the weight ratio of right ventricle (RV) to left ventricle plus septum (LV+ S) were calculated separately. U II in plasma was measured using radioimmunoassay. The expression of U II was observed in right ventricle myocytes and right ventricle arteries by immunohistochemistry. The expression of U II mRNA and UT mRNA were observed in right ventricle myocytes and right ventricle arteries by in situ hybridization.

RESULTS(1) The MPAP and RV/LV + S of HH group were higher respectively than those of NC group (P < 0.01, respectively). (2) The plasma U II content of HH group did not increased obviously than that of NC group. (3) The expression score of U II, U II mRNA, UT mRNA by right ventricle myocytes in HH group were higher significantly than those of NC group (P < 0.01 respectively). (4) The average value of integral light density (LD) of U II, U II mRNA, UT mRNA by right cardial arteries in HH group were higher significantly than those of NC group (P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of U II in right ventricle arteries and right ventricle myocytes increase significantly during the formation of pulmonary hypertension and right ventricle hypertrophy in rats chronically exposed to hypoxia-hypercapnia. These changes indicate that U II might be involved in right ventricle remodeling, which promotes proliferation of cardiac muscle cells.

Animals ; Heart Ventricles ; metabolism ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; metabolism ; Urotensins ; metabolism