Adaptive stress responses mediated by the endocrine, autonomic, cardiovascular, and immune systems are essential for
the survival of the individual. Initial stress-induced responses provide a vital short-term metabolic lift, but prolonged or
inappropriate exposure to stress can compromise homeostasis, thereby leading to disease. This 'fight or flight' response
is characterized by the activation of the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-adrenocorticotropin-glucocorticoid
axis, mediated by the type 1 CRH receptor (OMIM: 122561). In contrast, the type 2 CRH receptor (CRHR2) mediates the stress
coping responses during the recovery phase of stress. Hsu and Hsueh (2001) identified human stresscopin (SCP) and
stresscopin-related peptide (SRP) as specific ligands for CRHR2.
NCBI Summary:
This gene is a member of the sauvagine/corticotropin-releasing factor/urotensin I family. It is structurally related to the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) gene and the encoded product is an endogenous ligand for CRF type 2 receptors. In the brain it may be responsible for the effects of stress on appetite. In spite of the gene family name similarity, the product of this gene has no sequence similarity to urotensin II. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]
General function
Ligand, Hormone
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Cellular localization
Secreted
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The relationship of urocortin-2 with insulin resistance patients having PCOS. Temur M et al. (2016) In this study, we aimed to compare the serum urocortin-2 (UCN2) levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy women. Thirty-eight patients with PCOS and 41 healthy women were included in the study whose age and BMI matched. The fasting serum glucose, insulin, free testosterone, hs-CRP and UCN2 levels of the all participants were examined. HOMA-IR formula was used in order to calculate the insulin resistance. Circulating UCN2 levels were significantly elevated in women with PCOS compared with controls (142.93 ± 59.48 versus 98.56 ± 65.01 pg/ml, p = 0.002). FBG, serum insulin, hs-CRP and HOMA-IR levels were found to be increased in women with PCOS. There was a positive correlation between UCN2 and free-testosterone in only PCOS group (r = 0.235, p = 0.027). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the odds ratio for PCOS was 2.31 for patients in the highest quartile of UCN2 compared with those in the lowest quartile (OR = 2.31, 95% CI = 1.88-2.83, p=0.021). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that HOMA-IR, hs-CRP and free-testosterone independently predicted UCN2 levels (p < 0.05). UCN2 levels were significantly higher in PCOS cases when compared to control group. UCN2 is thought to be effective on pathophysiology of PCOS by paracrine and autocrine pathways.//////////////////
Ovarian function
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Expression regulated by
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Ovarian localization
Comment
The stresscopin (SCP) and stresscopin-related peptide (SRP) genes are expressed in diverse peripheral tissues
as well as in the central nervous system, including the ovary based on RT-PCR analysis.