SHU 9119 is an effective human melanocortin 3 and 4 receptors (MC3 4R) antagonist and a partial MC5R agonist (IC50: 0.23, 0.06, and 0.09 nM for human MC3R, MC4R and MC5R, respectively).
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)
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) (1-39) human (TFA), a member of the melanocortin family, is a melanocortin receptor agonist that stimulates corticosteroid (CS) production by the adrenals and is also found in the central nervous system (CNS).
[D-Trp8]-γ-MSH is a selective melanocortin 3 (MC3) receptor agonist (IC50 values are 6.7, 340 and 600 nM for human MC3, MC5 and MC4 receptors respectively). [D-Trp8]-γ-MSH displays anti-inflammatory efficacy.
Potent and selective melanocortin 4 (MC4) receptor agonist (IC50 values are 0.58 and 55 nM for human MC4 and MC3 receptors respectively). Produces a rapid and dose dependent restoration of cardiovascular and respiratory function in hemorrhage-shocked rats
Potent and selective melanocortin MC4 receptor antagonist (Ki values are 3.16, 108, 54.4 and 694 nM for cloned human MC4, MC1, MC3 and MC5 receptors respectively). Increases food intake in rats and nociception in mice following central administration in v