Marshaling the Anti-Inflammatory Influence of the Neuroimmunomodulator α-MSH

Inflammation in peripheral tissues should benefit from a novel focus on descending neuroimmunomodulatory anti-inflammatory influences stemming from CNS receptors for the peptide α-MSH. Because activation of glial and peripheral cell receptors modulates inflammatory activity, α-MSH peptides may aid treatment of a variety of CNS and peripheral inflammatory disorders. Activation of melanocortin receptors should thus promote control of inflammatory diseases.