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Mechanisms of Antiinflammatory Action of α‐MSH Peptides: In Vivo and in Vitro Evidence
Author(s) -
LIPTON J. M.,
ZHAO H.,
ICHIYAMA T.,
BARSH G. S.,
CATANIA A.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1999.tb08674.x
Subject(s) - proinflammatory cytokine , peptide , receptor , inflammation , chemistry , in vitro , mechanism of action , microbiology and biotechnology , in vivo , nitric oxide , pharmacology , biology , endocrinology , biochemistry , immunology
α‐Melanocyte stimulating hormone (α‐MSH) modulates all forms of inflammation by acting on peripheral inflammatory cells, glial inflammatory cells, and on CNS receptors that activate descending antiinflammatory neural pathways. The multiple actions of this ancient peptide suggest that there is no singular biochemical mechanism through which it exerts its antiinflammatory activity. However, research on IL‐10 deficient and Agouti protein hypersecreting mice provide new insights into the actions of the peptide in living animals. Studies of cultured human astrocytes, whole murine brain, and human monocyte/macrophages indicate that a primary effect of the peptide is modulation of activation of the nuclear transcription factor κB. The latter influence may underlie the established reduction of gene expression and production of proinflammatory peptides and inducible nitric oxide by α‐MSH peptides.