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FLASH GENE
Symbol UCN contributors: mct - updated : 07-12-2012
HGNC name urocortin
HGNC id 12516
EXPRESSION
Rna function endometrial mRNA expression of CRH and UCN during endometrial cycle
Type restricted
   expressed in (based on citations)
organ(s)
SystemOrgan level 1Organ level 2Organ level 3Organ level 4LevelPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
Cardiovascularheart     Homo sapiens
Endocrineadrenal gland    
Nervousbrainmidbrain    Homo sapiens
Urinarykidney    
tissue
SystemTissueTissue level 1Tissue level 2LevelPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
Connectiveadipose    Homo sapiens
Connectivebone  highly Homo sapiens
Epithelialbarrier/lininguroepithelium  
Muscularstriatum    Homo sapiens
cell lineage
cell lines
fluid/secretion
at STAGE
physiological period pregnancy
Text fetal membrane, pregnant uterus, placenta
PROTEIN
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
STRUCTURE
motifs/domains
isoforms Precursor
HOMOLOGY
interspecies homolog to rattus Unc
intraspecies homolog to to urotensin 1 (63 p100)
Homologene
FAMILY sauvagine/corticotropin-releasing factor/urotensin I family
CATEGORY regulatory , receptor membrane G
SUBCELLULAR LOCALIZATION extracellular
basic FUNCTION
  • endogenous CRF-like factor in the brain responsible for the effects of stress on appetite
  • anti-inflammatory in gastric mucosa
  • involved in phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent pathway and activation of Ca2+-activated K+ channels
  • potent peptide inhibitor of feeding behavior, that can enter the brain from blood by leptin-facilitated permeation across the blood-brain barrier
  • capable of maintaining adequate nigrostriatal function, via CRHR1 following a neuro-inflammatory challenge
  • may be a protective agent on endothelial function, benefiting endothelium by increasing endothelium-derived relaxing and decreasing contracting factors
  • inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of endothelial cells and down-regulated VEGF expression via CRHR2 in hepatocellular carcinoma
  • might also be a double-edged sword because of its beneficial and detrimental influence to endothelium
  • produced during the development of MSCs to osteoblasts and differentially regulated during culture as well as by differentiation factors
  • cardioprotective and vasoactive peptide involved in cardiac regulation
  • role of urocortin in normal cardiovascular physiology and in the pathophysiology of heart failure
  • CRH and urocortin (UCN) are neuropeptides produced by human endometrium and modulate endometrial decidualization (
  • CELLULAR PROCESS
    PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESS inflammation
    PATHWAY
    metabolism
    signaling
    a component
    INTERACTION
    DNA
    RNA
    small molecule
    protein
  • ligand with high affinity of CRHR2
  • effects of UCN are mediated via stimulation of CRF-receptors 1 and 2 (CRHR1 and CRHR2) with a high affinity for CRHR2
  • UTS2 and UCN stimulate the expression of MSTN (
  • in melanoma cells both CRH and UCN regulate TYRP1 gene expression via NR4A2/NR4A1 production, independent of pro-opiomelanocortin or alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone stimulation
  • cell & other
    REGULATION
    ASSOCIATED DISORDERS
    corresponding disease(s)
    Other morbid association(s)
    TypeGene ModificationChromosome rearrangementProtein expressionProtein Function
    constitutional     --low  
    impaired endometrial expression of CRH and UCN mRNA in endometriosis
    constitutional     --over  
    plasma concentrations of UCN significantly increased in patients with HF (heart failure) and UCN may participate in the neurohumoral response of heart failure
    Susceptibility
    Variant & Polymorphism
    Candidate gene
    Marker for heart failure (plasma concentrations of UCN significantly increased in patients with heart failure)
    Therapy target
    SystemTypeDisorderPubmed
    neurologyneurodegenerativeParkinson/dementia Parkinsonism
    potential therapeutic implications in PD.
    ANIMAL & CELL MODELS