![]() |
|
|
Vol. 288, Issue 3, 1349-1356, March 1999
Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Tufts
University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
Urocortin (Ucn) is related to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH),
and both are released in the brain under stress where they stimulate
CRH 1 and 2 receptors (CRHR). Outside the brain, they may have
proinflammatory actions through activation of mast cells, which are
located perivascularly close to nerve endings and degranulate in
response to acute psychological stress. Here, we report that a
concentration of intradermal Ucn as low as 10 nM induced dose-dependent
rat skin mast cell degranulation and increased vascular permeability.
This effect appeared to be equipotent to that of calcitonin
gene-related peptide and neurotensin. Ucn-induced skin vasodilation was
inhibited by pretreatment with the mast cell stabilizer disodium
cromoglycate (cromolyn) and was absent in the mast cell-deficient
W/Wv mice. The selective nonpeptide CRH receptor 1 antagonist, antalarmin and the nonselective peptide antagonist
astressin both reduced vascular permeability triggered by Ucn but not
that by Substance P or histamine. In contrast, the peptide antagonist
-helical CRH-(9-41) reduced the effect of all three. The
vasodilatory effect of Ucn was largely inhibited by pretreatment with
H1 receptor antagonists, suggesting that histamine is the
major mediator involved in vitro. Neuropeptide depletion of sensory
neurons, treatment with the ganglionic blocker hexamethonium, or in
situ skin infiltration with the local anesthetic lidocaine did not
affect Ucn-induced vascular permeability, indicating that its in situ
effect was not mediated through the peripheral nervous system. These
results indicate that Ucn is one of the most potent triggers of rat
mast cell degranulation and skin vascular permeability. This effect of
Ucn may explain stress-induced disorders, such as atopic dermatitis or
psoriasis, and may lead to new forms of treatment.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
Z. Hao, Y. Huang, J. Cleman, I. S. Jovin, W. W. Vale, T. L. Bale, and F. J. Giordano Urocortin2 inhibits tumor growth via effects on vascularization and cell proliferation PNAS, March 11, 2008; 105(10): 3939 - 3944. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. Kimura, T. Amano, H. Uehara, H. Ariga, T. Ishida, A. Torii, H. Tajiri, K. Matsueda, and S. Yamato Urocortin I is present in the enteric nervous system and exerts an excitatory effect via cholinergic and serotonergic pathways in the rat colon Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, October 1, 2007; 293(4): G903 - G910. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. J. Stark, L. Dierkx, V. L. Clifton, and I. M. R. Wright Alterations in the Maternal Peripheral Microvascular Response in Pregnancies Complicated by Preeclampsia and the Impact of Fetal Sex Reproductive Sciences, December 1, 2006; 13(8): 573 - 578. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Weller, K. Foitzik, R. Paus, W. Syska, and M. Maurer Mast cells are required for normal healing of skin wounds in mice FASEB J, November 1, 2006; 20(13): 2366 - 2368. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Donelan, W. Boucher, N. Papadopoulou, M. Lytinas, D. Papaliodis, P. Dobner, and T. C. Theoharides Corticotropin-releasing hormone induces skin vascular permeability through a neurotensin-dependent process PNAS, May 16, 2006; 103(20): 7759 - 7764. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Y. Wu, Y. Xu, H. Zhou, J. Tao, and S. Li Expression of urocortin in rat lung and its effect on pulmonary vascular permeability. J. Endocrinol., April 1, 2006; 189(1): 167 - 178. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Chen, A. Blount, J. Vaughan, B. Brar, and W. Vale Urocortin II Gene Is Highly Expressed in Mouse Skin and Skeletal Muscle Tissues: Localization, Basal Expression in Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor (CRFR) 1- and CRFR2-Null Mice, and Regulation by Glucocorticoids Endocrinology, May 1, 2004; 145(5): 2445 - 2457. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Kempuraj, N. G. Papadopoulou, M. Lytinas, M. Huang, K. Kandere-Grzybowska, B. Madhappan, W. Boucher, S. Christodoulou, A. Athanassiou, and T. C. Theoharides Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone and Its Structurally Related Urocortin Are Synthesized and Secreted by Human Mast Cells Endocrinology, January 1, 2004; 145(1): 43 - 48. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Crompton, V. L. Clifton, A. T. Bisits, M. A. Read, R. Smith, and I. M. R. Wright Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Causes Vasodilation in Human Skin via Mast Cell-Dependent Pathways J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2003; 88(11): 5427 - 5432. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Huang, X. Pang, K. Karalis, and T. C. Theoharides Stress-induced interleukin-6 release in mice is mast cell-dependent and more pronounced in Apolipoprotein E knockout mice Cardiovasc Res, July 1, 2003; 59(1): 241 - 249. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. Madhappan, D. Kempuraj, S. Christodoulou, S. Tsapikidis, W. Boucher, V. Karagiannis, A. Athanassiou, and T. C. Theoharides High Levels of Intrauterine Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, Urocortin, Tryptase, and Interleukin-8 in Spontaneous Abortions Endocrinology, June 1, 2003; 144(6): 2285 - 2290. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
V. L. Clifton, R. Crompton, R. Smith, and I. M. R. Wright Microvascular Effects of CRH in Human Skin Vary in Relation to Gender J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2002; 87(1): 267 - 270. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. Wang, V. Martinez, J. E. Rivier, and Y. Tache Peripheral urocortin inhibits gastric emptying and food intake in mice: differential role of CRF receptor 2 Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, November 1, 2001; 281(5): R1401 - R1410. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. SLOMINSKI, J. WORTSMAN, A. PISARCHIK, B. ZBYTEK, E. A. LINTON, J. E. MAZURKIEWICZ, and E. T. WEI Cutaneous expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), urocortin, and CRH receptors FASEB J, August 1, 2001; 15(10): 1678 - 1693. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. E. Murray, H. R. Lallman, A. D. Heard, M. B. Rittenberg, and M. P. Stenzel-Poore A Genetic Model of Stress Displays Decreased Lymphocytes and Impaired Antibody Responses Without Altered Susceptibility to Streptococcus pneumoniae J. Immunol., July 15, 2001; 167(2): 691 - 698. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. F. Gurish and K. F. Austen The Diverse Roles of Mast Cells J. Exp. Med., July 2, 2001; 194(1): F1 - F6. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
F. A. Tausk and H. Nousari Stress and the Skin Arch Dermatol, January 1, 2001; 137(1): 78 - 82. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. Middleton Jr., C. Kandaswami, and T. C. Theoharides The Effects of Plant Flavonoids on Mammalian Cells:Implications for Inflammation, Heart Disease, and Cancer Pharmacol. Rev., December 1, 2000; 52(4): 673 - 751. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Slominski and J. Wortsman Neuroendocrinology of the Skin Endocr. Rev., October 1, 2000; 21(5): 457 - 487. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
||||
![]() |
A. Slominski, A. Szczesniewski, and J. Wortsman Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Detection of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone and Proopiomelanocortin-Derived Peptides in Human Skin J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2000; 85(10): 3582 - 3588. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
||||
![]() |
A. Slominski, B. Roloff, J. Curry, M. Dahiya, A. Szczesniewski, and J. Wortsman The Skin Produces Urocortin J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2000; 85(2): 815 - 823. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
||||