Long-acting CRF2 peptide agonist improves cardiac function in a rat heart failure model

Abstract Introduction Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 2 (CRF2) is a G protein-coupled receptor largely expressed in the cardiorenal system. Upon CRF2 activation, endogenous ligands such as urocortin-2 (UCN-2) or urocortin-3 (UCN-3) have been reported to increase cardiac function, decrease vascular resistance and improve natriuresis and diuresis in heart failure (HF) patients and in various experimental heart failure settings. However UCN-2 or -3 suffer from a very short half-life which markedly limit further clinical investigations in HF patients. For this purpose, a very long acting CRF2 peptide agonist has been developed. Objectives The aim of this study is to determine the acute effect on cardiac hemodynamic of a long acting CRF2 peptide agonist, COR-1167, in a rat model of chronic heart failure. Methods In 10-week-old Wistar rats, a total occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery was performed to induce myocardial infarction. Twelve weeks after myocardial infarction, rats had developed heart failure and received COR-1167 at the dose of 0.3 µg/kg or 1 µg/kg, or placebo, administered SC. Left ventricular dimensions and function were then assessed by echocardiography and left ventricular pressure-volume analysis. Results Three months after left coronary artery ligation rats displayed the classical features of heart failure as illustrated by an increase in left ventricular diastolic diameter and reduced ejection fraction, and decreases in LV end-systolic pressure, dP/dtmax and LV end-systolic pressure volume relationship. Major LV diastolic dysfunction developed, as shown by the increases in LV end-diastolic pressure, and LV end-diastolic pressure volume relationship and the decrease in dP/dtmin. Echocardiography and left ventricular pressure-volume analysis showed that COR-1167 at 0.3 and 1 µg/kg SC improved in a dose-dependent manner cardiac contractility and relaxation as assessed by LVESPVR and LVEDPVR, respectively. In addition, stroke volume and cardiac output were significantly ameliorated by COR-1167 at 1.0 µg/kg SC, with no change in heart rate. Conclusion Single acute administration of COR-1167 improved cardiac function in a rat model of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Altogether these results confirm that CRF2 agonism is an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of heart failure.