China
Africa
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Hormones as Immune Modulating Agents
Published in Thomas F. Kresina, Immune Modulating Agents, 2020
Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone is produced by spleen cells and by keratinocytes and is present in the aqueous humour of the eye [150,180,181]. It has an inhibitory effect on thymocyte proliferation, neutrophilia, the production of acute-phase proteins by the liver, TNF and IFN-γ production, induction of prostaglandin E in fibroblasts, and contact sensitivity reactions. The immunosuppressive effect of IL-1β administered by the intracerebroventricular route could be blocked by the simultaneous infusion of α-MSH [182–189]. When administered to mice either systemically or locally at the site of treatment with contact sensitizing agents, α-MSH led to the induction of hapten-specific tolerance. Lymphocytes from regional lymph nodes of α-MSH treated mice failed to produce IL-2 5 days after sensitization. Tolerance induction by α-MSH could be abrogated in vivo by the administration of antibodies to IL-10 at the site of sensitization [190,191].
The Pituitary Gland, Psychoneuroimmunology and Infection
Published in Herman Friedman, Thomas W. Klein, Andrea L. Friedman, Psychoneuroimmunology, Stress, and Infection, 2020
Istvan Berczi, Andor Szentivanyi
Circulating alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) was increased significantly in rabbits after LPS injection. A large dose of α-MSH given i.v. to LPS treated animals inhibited fever, but had no effect on the acute phase response.73
Physiology of the Pituitary Gland
Published in John C Watkinson, Raymond W Clarke, Louise Jayne Clark, Adam J Donne, R James A England, Hisham M Mehanna, Gerald William McGarry, Sean Carrie, Basic Sciences Endocrine Surgery Rhinology, 2018
Mária Hérincs, Karen Young, Márta Korbonits
In addition, ACTH secretion has a superimposed pulsatile release pattern. The increase in cortisol is crucial for the appropriate stress response of the body and, if the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is compromised, cortisol treatment is life-saving in stress situations such as infection or surgery. Since ACTH is derived from POMC, conditions that lead to synthesis of large amounts of ACTH will also result in accumulation of other POMC-derived peptides. Raised levels of the alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone lead to characteristic darkening of the skin. This phenomenon is seen in adrenal insufficiency, ectopic ACTH-secreting tumours and Nelson syndrome.
Effects of Subcutaneous Repository Corticotropin Gel Injection on Regulatory T Cell Population in Noninfectious Retinal Vasculitis
Published in Ocular Immunology and Inflammation, 2023
Stephen D. Anesi, Peter Y. Chang, Arash Maleki, Ambika Manhapra, Sydney Look-Why, Soheila Asgari, Marisa Walsh, Kayla Drenen, C. Stephen Foster
Repository corticotropin gel injection (RCI, Acthar® Gel) is made up of a naturally sourced complex mixture of multiple peptides. The major component of RCI is N-25 deaminated porcine adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH 1–39). ACTH’s cleavage product, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), has been shown to exert glucocorticoid independent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects on peripheral immune cells by binding to the melanocortin receptors (MCRs) MCR1, MCR3, and MCR5.8 RCI has been used to treat several systemic immune-mediated diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, and multiple sclerosis.8 Although the use of RCI for the treatment of resistant ocular inflammatory diseases has increased in the last several years, it has not yet been extensively studied.9–12
Is there a therapeutic potential in combining bupropion and naltrexone in schizophrenia?
Published in Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 2022
Samer A. El Hayek, Malek A. Shatila, Jana A. Adnan, Luna E. Geagea, Firas Kobeissy, Farid R. Talih
BUPNAT is an oral extended-release tablet composed of a combination of the dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) reuptake inhibitor bupropion (BUP) and the µ-opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone (NAT) [18]. The BUP 90 mg/NAT 8 mg formulation (marketed under the brand name Contrave by Orexigen Therapeutics), is typically titrated to 4 tablets per day (BUP 360 mg/NAT 32 mg) by the fourth week of treatment [19]. The development of the drug started in the late 2000s. It gained FDA approval for the treatment of obesity in 2014 [20]. It is hypothesized to work via the stimulation of the hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons that release alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). α-MSH, in turn, targets specific receptors that serve to reduce caloric intake and increase energy expenditure. When α-MSH is released, POMC neurons also simultaneously secrete µ-opioid receptor agonists. This activates a negative feedback loop on the system. BUPNAT works on both pathways by stimulating POMC neurons (via its BUP component) and inhibiting the negative feedback loop (through the NAT component) [21] (Figure 1).
Symbiotic microorganisms: prospects for treating atopic dermatitis
Published in Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy, 2022
Rongrong Chai, Zongguang Tai, Yunjie Zhu, Chaochao Chai, Zhongjian Chen, Quangang Zhu
The skin flora is the most diverse in the human body and is crucial for host defense. The commensal skin flora protects the host from harmful pathogens and participates in the delicate balance of the immune system between effective protection and destructive inflammation [12]. The skin flora can synthesize and release compounds, such as histamine, glutamate, and gamma-aminobutyric acid, or peptides, such as alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone. Some viruses encode neurohormone-mimicking proteins, which may be considered neurohormonal by organisms [89]. Highly inflammatory cytolysins and antimicrobial peptides are secreted by the skin flora, which have an obvious relationship with the skin microenvironment [90,91]. Thus, skin flora dysbiosis is a risk factor for the development or aggravation of skin diseases [92].