• Erlene Kuizon, Eve G Pearce, Sarah G Bailey, Carol Chen-Scarabelli, Zhaokan Yuan, Kadija Abounit, Roy B McCauley, Louis Saravolatz, Giuseppe Faggian, Alessandro Mazzucco, Paul A Townsend, and Tiziano M Scarabelli.
• Center for Heart and Vessel Preclinical Studies, St John Hospital and Medical Center, Wayne State University Medical School, Detroit, MI, USA.
• Int. J. Cardiol. 2009 Nov 12; 137 (3): 189-94.

AbstractThe small peptide urocortin (Ucn) has the ability to protect the heart by reducing cardiac cell loss during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion, and improving post-ischemic cardiac performance. Although its mechanism of action is not clearly defined, investigations have revealed that Ucn acts through several kinase pathways, and modulates a group of genes which synergistically minimize mitochondrial damage. Besides cardioprotection, most recent findings suggest a role for Ucn as a cardiac biomarker. Serum Ucn levels may be clinically useful to diagnose cases of mild sub-lethal ischemia, lacking elevation of cardiac enzymes and electrocardiogram changes. Infusion of Ucn may also help reduce the extent of the iatrogenic ischemic/reperfusion injury, associated with cardioplegic arrest.

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