Potent endogenous neuropeptide S receptor agonist (EC50 = 9.4 nM). Increases locomotor activity and wakefulness in mice. Also reduces anxiety-like behavior in mice.
α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is a 13-amino acid peptide hormone produced by post-translational processing of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) in the pituitary gland, as well as in keratinocytes, astrocytes, monocytes, and gastrointestinal cells.1It is an agonist of melanocortin receptor 3 (MC3R) and MC4R that induces cAMP production in Hepa cells expressing the human receptors (EC50s = 0.16 and 56 nM, respectively).2α-MSH (100 pM) reducesS. aureuscolony formation andC. albicansgerm tube formationin vitro.3It inhibits endotoxin-, ceramide-, TNF-α-, or okadaic acid-induced activation of NF-κB in U937 cells.1α-MSH reduces IL-6- or TNF-α-induced ear edema in mice.4It also prevents the development of adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats and increases survival in a mouse model of septic shock. Increased plasma levels of α-MSH are positively correlated with delayed disease progression and reduced death in patients with HIV.1
1.Catania, A., Airaghi, L., Colombo, G., et al.α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in normal human physiology and disease statesTrends Endocrinol. Metab.11(8)304-308(2000) 2.Miwa, H., Gantz, I., Konda, Y., et al.Structural determinants of the melanocortin peptides required for activation of melanocortin-3 and melanocortin-4 receptorsJ. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.273(1)367-372(1995) 3.Cutuli, M., Cristiani, S., Lipton, J.M., et al.Antimicrobial effects of a-MSH peptidesJ. Leukoc. Biol.67(2)233-239(2000) 4.Lipton, J.M., Ceriani, G., Macaluso, A., et al.Antiiinflammatory effect of the neuropeptide a-MSH in acute, chronic, and systemic inflammationAnn. N.Y. Acad. Sci.25(741)137-148(1994)
Neuromedin U (NMU) is a neuropeptide first demonstrated to drive smooth muscle contraction.1Translated as a 174 amino acid propeptide, NMU is cleaved to different lengths in different animals. It has diverse receptor-mediated rolesin vivo, as it regulates feeding, vasoconstriction, nociception, and bone remodeling and contributes to obesity, cancer and septic shock.2,2NMU-25 is the active form of NMU in humans. It binds with high affinity to receptors on human left ventricle and coronary artery (KDs = 0.26 and 0.11 nM, respectively), eliciting endothelium-independent vasoconstriction.3NMU-25 also suppresses glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in human islets, and this effect is lost in NMU R165W mutants, resulting in early-onset obesity.4
1.Mitchell, J.D., Maguire, J.J., and Davenport, A.P.Emerging pharmacology and physiology of neuromedin U and the structurally related peptide neuromedin SBritish Journal of Pharmacology15887-103(2009) 2.Greenwood, H.C., Bloom, S.R., and Murphy, K.G.Peptides and their potential role in the treatment of diabetes and obesityRev.Diabet.Stud.8(3)355-368(2011) 3.Mitchell, J.D., Maguire, J.J., Kuc, R.E., et al.Expression and vasoconstrictor function of anorexigenic peptides neuromedin U-25 and S in the human cardiovascular systemCardiovascular Research81353-361(2009) 4.Alfa, R.W., Park, S., Skelly, K.R., et al.Suppression of insulin production and secretion by a decretin hormoneCell Metabolism21(2)323-333(2015)