Thiol compounds with low-molecular weight, such as glutathione, mycothiol (MSH), bacillithiol, and ergothioneine (ERG), are known to protect microorganisms from oxidative stresses. Mycobacteria and actinobacteria utilize both MSH and ERG. The biological functions of MSH in mycobacteria have been extensively studied by genetic and biochemical studies, which have suggested it has critical roles f...

α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory neuropeptide, has been shown to be effective in the experimental treatment of autoimmune diseases and allograft rejection. However, its regulatory mechanism is still unclear. Mature dendritic cells (DCs) are pivotal initiators of immune response and inflammation. We hypothesized that the regulatory role of α-MSH...

Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) increases melanogenesis and protects from UV-induced DNA damage. However, its effect on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage is unknown. We have addressed this issue in a pilot study using human epidermal keratinocytes and melanocytes incubated with alpha-MSH and irradiated with UVB. Real-time touchdown PCR was used to quantify total and deleted mtDN...

ALESSI, N. E. AND P. QUINLAN. Postnatal development of ACTH and a-MSH in the medulla oblongata of rat: a-MSH i.s the predominant peptide. PE PTIDES 6: Suppl. 2, 137-141, 1985.-ACTH and a-MSH levels were measured by radioimmunoassays in extracts of the caudal medulla oblongata of developing rats on postnatal (P) days 1-42 at 7 day intervals, and in adult rats. From PI to adulthood, ACTH increase...

Peptides of the pro-opiocortin class produce pronounced cardiovascular and natriuretic actions. We have investigated the acute cardiovascular effects of one of the most potent members of this class, gamma 2-melanocyte stimulating hormone (gamma 2-MSH), in rats. Pressor actions of gamma 2-MSH administered systemically were eliminated by ganglionic blockade with chlorisondamine. Peripheral cholin...

The remarkable conservation of the primary structures and anatomical location of dogfish α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), corticotrophin-like intermediate lobe peptide (CLIP) and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) compared with mammals reinforced the tissue-specific processing hypothesis of ACTH peptides in the pituitary gland. The cloning of dogfish pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) led to t...

The production of melanin is regulated by α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), which is produced from proopiomelanocortin (POMC). Keratinocytes release POMC along with lower levels of α-MSH and ACTH. To clarify the mechanism of melanogenesis after ultraviolet (UV)-irradiation, this study focused on the expression of POMC and POMC-derived peptides after UV-irradiation. Western blot analysis...

alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), a 13-amino acid peptide produced in the brain and pituitary gland, is a regulator of appetite and body weight, and its production is regulated by leptin, a factor that affects bone mass when administered centrally. alpha-MSH acts via melanocortin receptors. Humans deficient in melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4-R) have increased bone mass, and MC4-R h...

Melanoma is a malignancy with high potential to invasion and treatment resistance. The α -melanocyte-stimulating hormone ( α -MSH) signal transduction involving Wnt/ β -catenin, c-Kit, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), a known pathway to produce melanin, has been demonstrated as one of cancer stem cell characteristics. This study was aimed to examine the effect of resve...

It is now well established that GPR139, a G-protein coupled receptor exclusively expressed in the brain and pituitary, is activated by the essential amino acids L-tryptophan (L-Trp) and L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) via Gαq-coupling. The in vitro affinity and potency values of L-Trp and L-Phe are within the physiological concentration ranges of L-Trp and L-Phe. A recent paper suggests that adrenocort...