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The melanocortin system in leukocyte biology
Author(s) -
Catania Anna
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.0706426
Subject(s) - melanocortin , melanocortins , melanocortin 3 receptor , melanocortin receptor , biology , melanocortin 1 receptor , receptor , melanocyte stimulating hormone , adrenocorticotropic hormone , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , medicine , hormone , biochemistry , gene , allele
The melanocortin system is composed of the melanocortin peptides, adrenocorticotropic hormone and α‐, β‐, and γ‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone, the melanocortin receptors (MCRs), and the endogenous antagonists agouti‐ and agouti‐related protein. Melanocortin peptides exert multiple effects upon the host, including anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Leukocytes are a source of melanocortins and a major target for these peptides. Because of reduced translocation of the nuclear factor NF‐κB to the nucleus, MCR activation by their ligands causes a collective reduction of the most important molecules involved in the inflammatory process. This review examines how melanocortin peptides and their receptors participate in leukocyte biology.