RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family consists of the neuropeptides CRF, Ucn I, II and III and the binding sites CRFR1, CRFR2 and CRF-BP. It regulates stress response and the homeostasis of an organism. In this study, we examined the presence of the CRF system in the human hearts of normal and pathological fetuses. DESIGN: Heart tissues from 40 archival human fetuses were divided into Group A (without pathology, 'normal'), Group B (with chromosomal abnormalities) and Group C (with congenital disorders). Immunohistochemistry was used to localize the CRF system. Results correlated to gestational trimester and pathology. RESULTS: Immunoreactivity for all antigens was found in cardiac myocytes of all groups, in almost all samples, except Ucn III which was present in almost half of the fetuses of Groups B and C and was not detected at all in Group A. Ucn III was more often present during the earlier stage of development (<21weeks) and in fetuses with congenital disorders. In a fetus diagnosed with heart pathology, all but Ucn III antigens were also present. CONCLUSIONS: We localized a complete CRF system in the human fetal heart and correlated the presence of Ucn III to development and pathology. More studies are needed to verify and clarify the exact role of the CRF system in the human fetal heart.
Asunto(s)
Hormona Liberadora de Corticotropina/metabolismo , Corazón Fetal/metabolismo , Receptores de Hormona Liberadora de Corticotropina/metabolismo , Femenino , Regulación del Desarrollo de la Expresión Génica/fisiología , Edad Gestacional , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica , Masculino , Receptores de Hormona Liberadora de Corticotropina/genética , Urocortinas/genética , Urocortinas/metabolismoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family consists of the neuropeptides CRF, Ucn I, II and III and the binding sites CRFR1, CRFR2 and CRF-BP. It regulates stress response and the homeostasis of an organism. In this study, we examined the presence of the CRF system in the human hearts of normal and pathological fetuses. DESIGN: Heart tissues from 40 archival human fetuses were divided into Group A (without pathology, 'normal'), Group B (with chromosomal abnormalities) and Group C (with congenital disorders). Immunohistochemistry was used to localize the CRF system. Results correlated to gestational trimester and pathology. RESULTS: Immunoreactivity for all antigens was found in cardiac myocytes of all groups, in almost all samples, except Ucn III which was present in almost half of the fetuses of Groups B and C and was not detected at all in Group A. Ucn III was more often present during the earlier stage of development (<21 weeks) and in fetuses with congenital disorders. In a fetus diagnosed with heart pathology, all but Ucn III antigens were also present. CONCLUSIONS: We localized a complete CRF system in the human fetal heart and correlated the presence of Ucn III to development and pathology. More studies are needed to verify and clarify the exact role of the CRF system in the human fetal heart.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF) system (neuropeptides CRF, Ucn I, II, III and binding sites CRFR1, CRFR2, CRF-BP) is responsible for stress regulation and the homeostasis of an organism. Herein we study the CRF system in human normal and pathological fetal lungs. DESIGN: Lung tissues from 46 archival human fetuses were divided into Group A (normal), Group B (chromosomal abnormalities) and Group C (congenital disorders). Presence of elements of the CRF system was evaluated using immunohistochemistry and was correlated to pathology, lung developmental stage and clinicopathological characteristics. RESULTS: Immunoreactivity for all antigens was found in both epithelial and mesenchymal lung cells of the bronchi and alveoli. Ucn I and CRFR1 were more frequently present in Group A. Ucns were more frequently localized at the pseudoglandular stage. There was a positive correlation between the presence of the CRF neuropeptides and between CRFR1 and CRF. Two fetuses with lung malformations showed low or no detectable presence of the CRF system. CONCLUSIONS: We report the presence of a complete CRF system in human fetal lungs correlating its developmental stage and several pathologies. Our results are in agreement with findings in experimental animal models, implicating the CRF system in fetal lung development, its action being more significant in the early stages.