Urotensin II (U-II) is a cyclic neuropeptide that was first isolated from teleost fish some 35 years ago. Mammalian U-II is a powerful vasoconstrictor with a potency greater than that of endothelin-1.Nevertheless, unlike endothelin-1, which constricts all or nearly all vascular beds, the vasoactive effects of U-II are reported to be dependent both on the species and on the regional vascular bed examined. Typical regional variability occurs in the rat in which vasoconstriction to U-II is most robust in thoracic aorta proximal to the aortic arch and decreases gradually towards the distal peripheral arteries. As small peripheral arteries but not larger arteries such as the aorta play a major role in regulating peripheral resistance and consequent blood pressure as well as workload on the heart, doubts have been raised concerning the importance of this peptide in cardiovascular physiology. Moreover, an interaction between U-II and other endogenous vasoactive molecules may add a level of complexity to the vascular actions of U-II.On the other hand, recent experimental and clinical studies have revealed increased expression of U-II and urotensin receptor (UT receptor) in animals with experimentally induced myocardial infarction, heart failure, and in patients with hypertension, atherosclerosis, and diabetic nephropathy, which suggests a potential role for U-II in both cardiovascular and renal diseases. A series of peptidic and nonpeptidic UT receptor ligands have been shown to be effective in antagonizing the effects of U-II in the cardiorenal system. This article aims to review recent advances in our understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of U-II with particular references to its role in cardiovascular health and disease.
