Scientists identify protein that promotes heart failure

They believe the protein exacerbates chronic heart problems, and by inhibiting it, they reckon they could help treat a disease that affects more than 20 million worldwide. Chronic heart

failure is caused by a variety of conditions that damage the heart, including coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Although the heart initially tries to compensate for this

damage and maintain its function by growing larger, cardiac function gradually declines until the heart is no longer able to pump enough blood and oxygen around the body. The Japanese team

of scientists from Nagoya University School of Medicine were led by Dr Mikito Takefuji. They discovered a signalling protein called corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 2 (Crhr2) is

expressed on the surface of heart muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, and that Crhr2 levels increase in mice suffering from heart failure. Crhr2 is a G protein-coupled receptor whose ability to

alter cardiomyocyte function is activated by a protein called urocortin 2 (Ucn2). Ucn2 levels were elevated in the blood of both mice and human patients with chronic heart failure, the

researchers found. The team discovered that they could reduce cardiac function by treating healthy mice with Ucn2. Dr Takefuji said: "Our results suggest that constitutive Crhr2

activation causes cardiac dysfunction and that Crhr2 blockade could be a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with chronic heart failure."