This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kohno, M. Articles by Sano, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kohno, M. Articles by Sano, H. Pubmed/NCBI databases Substance via MeSH Medline Plus Health Information Joint Disorders Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis

Urocortin Expression in Synovium of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis: Relation to Inflammatory Activity

First Department of Internal Medicine (Ma.K., Yu.K., Y.T., A.H., R.Y., K.-I.I., Mo.K., H.S.) and Department of Orthopedics (Yo.K., T.K.), Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan; Arthritis and Rheumatism Branch (I.J.E.), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20892; and Developmental Endocrinology Branch (G.P.C.), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Hajime Sano, M.D., Ph.D., Kyoto Perfectural University of Medicine, First Department of Internal Medicine, 465 Kajii-Cho, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-Ku, Kyoto, Japan 602-8566. E-mail: hsano{at}koto.kpu-m.ac.jp

Abstract

Peripherally produced CRH acts as a local auto/paracrine proinflammatory agent. Urocortin is a new member of the CRH family that acts through the family of CRH receptors. In this study, we demonstrated that the expression of urocortin mRNA in synovia of patients with rheumatoid arthritis was greater than that of patients with osteoarthritis. Also, we detected urocortin and CRH receptor immunoreactivity in the synovial lining cell layer, subsynovial stromal cells, blood vessel endothelial cells, and mononuclear inflammatory cells from the joints of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis patients. The expression of immunoreactive urocortin was significantly greater in rheumatoid arthritis than osteoarthritis (P < 0.0001) and correlated with the extent of inflammatory infiltrate. CRH receptor immunoreactivity was strong in mononuclear inflammatory cells of rheumatoid arthritis synovia. Urocortin stimulated IL-1ß and IL-6 secretion by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro. These findings suggest that, like CRH, urocortin is present in peripheral inflammatory sites, such as rheumatoid synovium, and acts as an immune-inflammatory mediator.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Chorny and M. Delgado Neuropeptides Rescue Mice from Lethal Sepsis by Down-regulating Secretion of the Late-Acting Inflammatory Mediator High Mobility Group Box 1 Am. J. Pathol., May 1, 2008; 172(5): 1297 - 1307. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Mastorakos, E. I Karoutsou, and M. Mizamtsidi Corticotropin releasing hormone and the immune/inflammatory response Eur. J. Endocrinol., November 1, 2006; 155(suppl_1): S77 - S84. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E Zoumakis, D K Grammatopoulos, and G P Chrousos Corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonists Eur. J. Endocrinol., November 1, 2006; 155(suppl_1): S85 - S91. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Wu, Y. Xu, H. Zhou, J. Tao, and S. Li Expression of urocortin in rat lung and its effect on pulmonary vascular permeability. J. Endocrinol., April 1, 2006; 189(1): 167 - 178. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Tsatsanis, A. Androulidaki, T. Alissafi, I. Charalampopoulos, E. Dermitzaki, T. Roger, A. Gravanis, and A. N. Margioris Corticotropin-Releasing Factor and the Urocortins Induce the Expression of TLR4 in Macrophages via Activation of the Transcription Factors PU.1 and AP-1 J. Immunol., February 1, 2006; 176(3): 1869 - 1877. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Sashinami, K. Kageyama, T. Suda, and A. Nakane Urocortin 2 Suppresses Host Resistance to Listeria monocytogenes Infection via Up-Regulation of Interleukin-10 Endocrinology, November 1, 2005; 146(11): 5003 - 5011. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. E. la Fleur, E. C. Wick, P. S. Idumalla, E. F. Grady, and A. Bhargava From the Cover: Role of peripheral corticotropin-releasing factor and urocortin II in intestinal inflammation and motility in terminal ileum PNAS, May 24, 2005; 102(21): 7647 - 7652. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Saruta, K. Takahashi, T. Suzuki, A. Torii, M. Kawakami, and H. Sasano Urocortin 1 in Colonic Mucosa in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2004; 89(11): 5352 - 5361. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. Davis, C. J. Pemberton, T. G. Yandle, J. G. Lainchbury, M. T. Rademaker, M. G. Nicholls, C. M. Frampton, and A. M. Richards Urocortin-1 Infusion in Normal Humans J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2004; 89(3): 1402 - 1409. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Kempuraj, N. G. Papadopoulou, M. Lytinas, M. Huang, K. Kandere-Grzybowska, B. Madhappan, W. Boucher, S. Christodoulou, A. Athanassiou, and T. C. Theoharides Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone and Its Structurally Related Urocortin Are Synthesized and Secreted by Human Mast Cells Endocrinology, January 1, 2004; 145(1): 43 - 48. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Kageyama and T. Suda Urocortin-Related Peptides Increase Interleukin-6 Output via Cyclic Adenosine 5'-Monophosphate-Dependent Pathways in A7r5 Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells Endocrinology, June 1, 2003; 144(6): 2234 - 2241. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Chatzaki, I. Charalampopoulos, C. Leontidis, I. A. Mouzas, M. Tzardi, C. Tsatsanis, A. N. Margioris, and A. Gravanis Urocortin in Human Gastric Mucosa: Relationship to Inflammatory Activity J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2003; 88(1): 478 - 483. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]