urocortin-2

Urocortin-2 is a synthetic peptide and member of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family, consisting of approximately 38 amino acids. It acts as a highly selective agonist for the corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 2 (CRHR2), distinguishing it from other CRF-related peptides that primarily target type 1 receptors. Urocortin-2 has been investigated for its potential therapeutic effects in heart failure, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Its mechanism involves activation of CRHR2, leading to increased intracellular cAMP levels via adenylate cyclase stimulation. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that urocortin-2 can enhance cardiac output, improve renal function, increase insulin sensitivity and glucose disposal, reduce fatty infiltration of the liver, suppress food intake, delay gastric emptying, decrease edema formation due to heat stress, and promote fat loss while preserving lean muscle mass[1][3][4][5][6]. Development efforts have included both direct peptide administration and gene therapy approaches using adeno-associated viral vectors encoding the urocortin-2 gene[6].

Other names

urocortin IIUcn IIUNII-2IH21SQ983UNII2IH21SQ983UNII 2IH21SQ9832IH21SQ983