Endocrine Abstracts

The family of urocortins (UCNs) exert important pathophysiological actions in the control of peripheral homeostatic mechanisms, through activation of the type 2-corticotropin releasing hormone receptor (CRH-R2). This G-protein coupled receptor preferentially binds urocortins (UCN, UCNII and UCNIII) than CRH. In most tissues, CRH-R2 activation leads to increased cAMP production. In this study we used HEK293 cells stably overexpressing recombinant CRH-R2β receptors to inves...

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and its related peptides, the urocortins (UCNs) mediate their effects by binding to two types of GPCRs, CRH-R1 and CRH-R2. In most target tissues, the adenylyl cyclase/cAMP/PKA and the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) are the two main pathways mediating the biological effects of CRH-Rs. For most multi-signal G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), there is considerable level of ‘cross-talk’ between different signalling cascad...

Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and its related peptides, urocortins (UCN), are now emerging as critical regulators of energy balance and homeostasis. These peptides exert their effects through activation of two types of CRH receptors (CRH-R1 and CRH-R2). The role of these peptides as regulators of mammalian thermogenesis and their effects on brown adipose tissue (BAT) have been primarily attributed to modulation of brain centres controlling sympathetic outflow. However,...

Objective: Orexin-A and orexin-B and their G-protein coupled receptors (orexin receptor-1 & -2: OX1R, OX2R) have divergent effects on physiological behaviour, cardiovascular regulation, glucocorticoid and insulin release. Furthermore, orexins have been shown to affect both brown adipose tissue energy expenditure and thermogenesis through stimulation of sympathetic nerve activity. Despite in vivo studies demonstrating a role for orexins acting centrally on adipose ti...

Objective: Orexin-A and orexin-B and their G-protein coupled receptors (orexin receptor-1 & -2: OX1R, OX2R) have divergent effects on physiological behaviour, cardiovascular regulation, glucocorticoid and insulin release. Furthermore, orexins have been shown to affect both brown adipose tissue energy expenditure and thermogenesis through stimulation of sympathetic nerve activity. Despite in vivo studies demonstrating a role for orexins acting centrally on adipose ti...