The Importance of Melanocortin Receptors and Their Agonists in Pulmonary Disease

Frontiers in Medicine

article

Anna Elizabeth Moscowitz¹  Huda Asif²  Laurence Baily Lindenmaier¹  Andrew Calzadilla²  Chongxu Zhang³  Mehdi Mirsaeidi² 

[1] School of Medicine, University of Miami, United States;Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Miami, United States;Section of Pulmonary, Miami VA Healthcare System, United States

关键词: MCR;    ACTH;    α-MSH;    sarcoidosis;    melanocortin;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fmed.2019.00145

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Melanocortin agonists are ancient neuropeptides that have steroidogenesis and anti-inflammatory properties. They activate melanocortin receptors (MCR), a family of five seven-transmembrane G-protein coupled receptors. MC1R and MC3R are mainly involved in immunomodulatory effects. Adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) and alpha-Melanocortin stimulating hormone (α-MSH) reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines in several pulmonary inflammatory disorders including asthma, sarcoidosis, and the acute respiratory distress syndrome. They have also been shown to reduce fibrogenesis in animal models with pulmonary fibrosis. By understanding the functions of MCR in macrophages, T-helper cell type 1, and T-helper cell type 17, we may uncover the mechanism of action of melanocortin agonists in sarcoidosis. Further translational and clinical research is needed to define the role of ACTH and α-MSH in pulmonary diseases.

【 授权许可】

CC BY