Suppression of collagen synthesis is a major therapeutic goal in treatment of fibrotic disorders. We show here that alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), a neuropeptide well known for its pigment-inducing capacity, modulates collagen synthesis and deposition. AlphaMSH in vitro suppresses the synthesis of collagen type I, III and V and down-regulates the secretion of procollagen type...

The anti-inflammatory cytokines alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) and interleukin (IL)-10 inhibit acute renal failure (ARF) after ischemia or cisplatin administration; however, these agents have not been tested in a pure nephrotoxic model of ARF. Therefore, we examined the effects of alpha-MSH and IL-10 in HgCl(2)-induced ARF. Mice were injected subcutaneously with HgCl(2) and then giv...

In this study, we analyzed the anti-inflammatory effects of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)11-13 (KPV) in comparison with other MSH peptides in a model of crystal-induced peritonitis. Systemic treatment of mice with KPV, alpha-MSH, the core melanocortin peptide His-Phe-Arg-Trp, and the melanocontin receptor 3/4 agonist Ac-Nle4-c[Asp5,d-Phe7,Lys10]NH2 ACTH4-10 (MTII) but not the selec...

Ergothioneine (ERG) and mycothiol (MSH) are two low-molecular-weight thiols synthesized by mycobacteria. The role of MSH has been extensively investigated in mycobacteria; however, little is known about the role of ERG in mycobacterial physiology. In this study, quantification of ERG at various points in the growth cycle of Mycobacterium smegmatis revealed that a significant portion of ERG is f...

The hypothesis that macrophages contain an autocrine circuit based on melanocortin [ACTH and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)] peptides has major implications for neuroimmunomodulation research and inflammation therapy. To test this hypothesis, cells of the THP-1 human monocyte/macrophage line were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence and absence of α-MSH. The inflam...

The MSH producing cells in the pars intermedia of Sarotherodon mossambicus have been shown to be involved in background adaptation processes. Reflected light received by the eyes affects the activity of these cells. In the present study the hypothesis has been tested that also the pineal organ, as a second photoreceptor, is involved in regulation of the metabolic activity of the MSH cells. The ...

Rab3a is a small GTPase of the Rab3 subfamily that acts during late stages of Ca²⁺-regulated exocytosis. Previous functional analysis in pituitary melanotrophs described Rab3a as a positive regulator of Ca²⁺-dependent exocytosis. However, the precise role of the Rab3a isoform on the kinetics and intracellular [Ca²⁺] sensitivity of regulated exocytosis, which may affect the availability of two m...

Dry eye is a highly prevalent, chronic, and multifactorial disease that compromises quality of life and generates socioeconomic burdens. The pathogenic factors of dry eye disease (DED) include tear secretion abnormalities, tear film instability, and ocular surface inflammation. An effective intervention targeting the pathogenic factors is needed to control this disease. Here we applied α-Melano...

Mouse melanocortin receptors, MC1-R, MC3-R, MC4-R, and MC5-R, when expressed in HEK293 cells and stimulated with either alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) or desacetyl-alpha-MSH, mediate increases in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) with EC(50) values between 0.3 and 4.3 nM. The increase in [Ca(2+)](i) is cholera toxin sensitive and pertussis toxin insensitiv...

alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide proposed to play a key role in energy homeostasis. To investigate the behavioral, metabolic, and hypothalamic responses to chronic central alpha-MSH administration, alpha-MSH was infused continuously into the third cerebral ventricle of rats for 6 days. Chronic alpha-MSH infusion reduced cumulative food intake by 10...