cu-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (a-MSH,.,,) and its COOHterminal tripeptide ol-MSH,,.,, (Lys Pro Val) inhibit inflammation when administered systemically. Recent evidence indicates that c~-MSH,.,, can likewise inhibit inflammation in the skin solely via an action within the brain. Because of the potential importance of this discovery to understanding the control of inflammation and because (u...

α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is an anti-inflammatory peptide, proved to be beneficial in many neuroinflammatory disorders acting through melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R). We previously determined that rat microglial cells express MC4R and that NDP-MSH, an analog of α-MSH, induces PPAR-γ expression and IL-10 release in these cells. Given the great importance of modulation of glial acti...

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) is an endogenous anti-inflammatory peptide reported to possess antimicrobial properties, however their role as antibacterial peptides is yet to be established. In the present study, we examined in vitro antibacterial activity of alpha-MSH against S. aureus strain ISP479C and several methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) S....

The neuropeptide alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is an important regulator of immune cell activity within the immunosuppressive ocular microenvironment. Its constitutive presence not only suppresses macrophage inflammatory activity, it also participates in retinal pigment epithelial cell (RPE) mediated activation of macrophages to function similar to myeloid suppressor cells. In ad...

A Mr 26,000 corticotropin (ACTH)-like material is present in glacial acetic acid extracts of all normal rat extrapituitary tissues. In the present study, beta-melanotropin (beta-MSH) immunoactivity was detected in glacial acetic acid extracts of normal rat extrapituitary tissues. beta-MSH immunoactivity was also present in all extracts (mean +/- SEM, fmol/mg of protein): brain, 71.0 +/- 16.3; s...

The peptides alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and oxytocin, when administered centrally, produce similar behavioral effects. alpha-MSH induces Fos expression in supraoptic oxytocin neurons, and alpha-MSH melanocortin-4 receptors (MC4Rs) are highly expressed in the supraoptic nucleus, suggesting that alpha-MSH and oxytocin actions are not independent. Here we investigated the eff...

The function of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) is not known in mammals. It is well-established in the amphibian Xenopus laevis in which alpha-MSH mediates the process of adaptation to a dark background. The amino acid sequence of this hormone is, however, not known in amphibians. In order to determine the primary structure of the precursor protein for alpha-MSH, which in mamma...

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) demonstrate opposite actions on skin coloration in teleost fish. Both peptides are present in the mammalian brain, although their specific physiological roles remain largely unknown. In this study, we examined the interactions between MCH and α-MSH after intracerebroventricular administration in rats. MCH increased...

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is a highly conserved 13-aa neuropeptide derived from pro-opiomelanocortin by post-translational processing, which has been reported to exhibit potent anti-inflammatory activity and a wide range of immunosuppressive activities in the skin. However, the regulatory effect of α-MSH is not completely clear in cutaneous innate immunity. In this study, we ...

OBJECTIVE To investigate effects of sample handling, storage, and collection time and season on plasma alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) concentration in healthy equids. ANIMALS 11 healthy Standardbreds and 13 healthy semiferal ponies. PROCEDURE Plasma alpha-MSH concentration was measured by use of radioimmunoassay. Effects of delayed processing were accessed by comparing alp...