Elevated expression of urotensin II and its receptor in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: Urotensin II (UII) is a somatostatin-like peptide recently identified to have several cardiovascular effects, including potent vasoactive, cardiac inotropic and chronotropic properties. Our aim was to determine the degree of expression of UII and UII receptor (UT) in the myocardium of rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes.

METHODS: Real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the degree of expression and location of UII and UT in the myocardium of STZ-induced diabetic rats.

RESULTS: UII and UT expression were significantly enhanced in the myocardium of rats with diabetes compared with healthy controls on both messenger RNA and protein levels. Both UII and UT protein expression were mainly concentrated in the cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, cardiac fibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM).

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a possible role for the UII/UT system in the pathophysiology of DCM.