Corticotropin releasing factor and its binding protein

Lowry, P. J.; Woods, R. J.; Baigent, S

doi:10.1016/0091-3057(95)02136-1

Cited by 22 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…A possible explanation for the elevated amniotic fluid and umbilical cord plasma CRF-BP concentrations may be found in the genomic characterization of CRF-BP, which has revealed acute phase response elements. One of them is known to bind the transcription factor nuclear factor-B, which regulates immunoglobulin and interleukin transcription and is thought to play a role in response to inflammation (23). Consequently, a role for proinflammatory cytokines can be suggested in the mechanisms regulating CRF-BP synthesis and secretion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amniotic Fluid and Umbilical Cord Plasma Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF), CRF-Binding Protein, Adrenocorticotropin, and Cortisol Concentrations in Intraamniotic Infection and Inflammation at Term

Florio

Romero

Chaiworapongsa

et al. 2008

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &Amp; Metabolism

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Context: Pregnant tissues express corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a peptide modulating fetal and placental ACTH and cortisol secretion. These actions are modulated by the locally expressed CRF-binding protein (CRF-BP).Objective: The objective of the study was to determine whether CRF, CRF-BP, ACTH, and cortisol concentrations change in amniotic fluid and umbilical cord plasma in the presence of intraamniotic infection/inflammation (IAI) in women with spontaneous labor at term.Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Setting:The study was conducted at a tertiary referral center for obstetric care. Patients:Patients included women in active labor at term with (n ϭ 39) and without (controls; n ϭ 78) IAI. Main Outcome Measures:Amniotic fluid and umbilical cord plasma concentrations of CRF, CRF-BP, ACTH, and cortisol measured by RIA and immunoradiometric assays were measured. Results:In patients with IAI, amniotic fluid CRF (0.97 Ϯ 0.18 ng/ml) and CRF-BP (33.06 Ϯ 5.54 nmol/liter) concentrations were significantly (P Ͻ 0.001) higher than in controls (CRF: 0.32 Ϯ 0.04 ng/ml; CRF-BP: 14.69 Ϯ 2.79 ml). The umbilical cord plasma CRF and CRF-BP concentrations were significantly (P Ͻ 0.001 for all) higher in women with IAI than in controls (CRF: 2.96 Ϯ 0.35 ng/ml vs. 0.38 Ϯ 0.18 ng/ml; CRF-BP: 152.12 Ϯ 5.94 nmol/liter vs. 106.9 Ϯ 5.97 nmol/liter). In contrast, amniotic fluid and umbilical cord plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations did not differ between groups. Conclusions

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Amniotic Fluid and Umbilical Cord Plasma Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF), CRF-Binding Protein, Adrenocorticotropin, and Cortisol Concentrations in Intraamniotic Infection and Inflammation at Term

Florio

Romero

Chaiworapongsa

et al. 2008

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &Amp; Metabolism

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“…Human and rat CRH-R1 genes contain 14 and 13 exons, respectively (330,419), whereas the human CRH-R2␣ gene contains 12 exons (207). In addition to CRH receptors, CRH binding proteins of 322 aa have been characterized; these are partially associated with plasma membranes or circulate in the blood (74,185,218,293,307). CRH binding proteins have high affinity for CRH and are postulated to inactivate extracellular CRH, thus preventing its interaction with receptors.…”

Section: A Crh Receptors: Structure and Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…CRH binding proteins have high affinity for CRH and are postulated to inactivate extracellular CRH, thus preventing its interaction with receptors. This would be the mechanism for neutralization of the large amounts of circulating CRH present during pregnancy (74,185,218,235,293,300,307).…”

Section: A Crh Receptors: Structure and Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corticotropin Releasing Hormone and Proopiomelanocortin Involvement in the Cutaneous Response to Stress

Słomiński

Wortsman

Luger

et al. 2000

Physiological Reviews

714

838

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The skin is a known target organ for the proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived neuropeptides alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), beta-endorphin, and ACTH and also a source of these peptides. Skin expression levels of the POMC gene and POMC/corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) peptides are not static but are determined by such factors as the physiological changes associated with hair cycle (highest in anagen phase), ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure, immune cytokine release, or the presence of cutaneous pathology. Among the cytokines, the proinflammatory interleukin-1 produces important upregulation of cutaneous levels of POMC mRNA, POMC peptides, and MSH receptors; UVR also stimulates expression of all the components of the CRH/POMC system including expression of the corresponding receptors. Molecular characterization of the cutaneous POMC gene shows mRNA forms similar to those found in the pituitary, which are expressed together with shorter variants. The receptors for POMC peptides expressed in the skin are functional and include MC1, MC5 and mu-opiate, although most predominant are those of the MC1 class recognizing MSH and ACTH. Receptors for CRH are also present in the skin. Because expression of, for example, the MC1 receptor is stimulated in a similar dose-dependent manner by UVR, cytokines, MSH peptides or melanin precursors, actions of the ligand peptides represent a stochastic (predictable) nonspecific response to environmental/endogenous stresses. The powerful effects of POMC peptides and probably CRH on the skin pigmentary, immune, and adnexal systems are consistent with stress-neutralizing activity addressed at maintaining skin integrity to restrict disruptions of internal homeostasis. Hence, cutaneous expression of the CRH/POMC system is highly organized, encoding mediators and receptors similar to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This CRH/POMC skin system appears to generate a function analogous to the HPA axis, that in the skin is expressed as a highly localized response which neutralizes noxious stimuli and attendant immune reactions.

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“…The majority of late gestational maternal plasma CRF is bound to a high-affinity CRF-BP that neutralizes the ACTHreleasing properties of the CRF receptor agonist (Lowry et al, 1996). Thus, maternal plasma CRF-BP levels determine the amount of "free" CRF that will bind to pituitary CRF receptors and thereby modulate the activity of the HPA axis during late human pregnancy.…”

Section: Crf-binding Proteinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corticotropin-Releasing Factor in Brain: A Role in Activation, Arousal, and Affect Regulation

Heinrichs

Koob²

2004

J Pharmacol Exp Ther

325

223

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Organisms exposed to challenging stimuli that alter the status quo inside or outside of the body are required for survival purposes to generate appropriate coping responses that counteract departures from homeostasis. Identification of an executive control mechanism within the brain capable of coordinating the multitude of endocrine, physiological, and functional coping responses has high utility for understanding the response of the organism to stressor exposure under normal or pathological conditions. The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)/urocortin family of neuropeptides and receptors constitutes an affective regulatory system due to the integral role it plays in controlling neural substrates of arousal, emotionality, and aversive processes. In particular, available evidence from pharmacological intervention in multiple species and phenotyping of mutant mice shows that CRF/urocortin systems mediate motor and psychic activation, stimulus avoidance, and threat recognition responses to aversive stimulus exposure. It is suggested that affective regulation is exerted by CRF/urocortin systems within the brain based upon the sensitivity of local brain sites to CRF/urocortin ligand administration and the appearance of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical activation following stressor exposure. Moreover, these same stress neuropeptides may constitute a mechanism for learning to avoid noxious stimuli by facilitating the formation of so-called emotional memories. A conceptual framework is provided for extrapolation of animal model findings to humans and for viewing CRF/urocortin activation as a continuum measure linking normal and pathological states.Many experimental studies performed in animals support the role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) peptides and receptors as mediators of interoceptive coping reactions to environmental or physiological challenges; however, the advent of small molecule ligands for CRF receptors suitable for administration in human beings raises the question of what insights, if any, anti-stress pharmacology exerted via CRF manipulations in animals provides for human biology and psychopathology. The present review addresses how the evidence for the adaptive utility of CRF systems provides a basis for predicting the consequences of brain CRF system activation or deactivation in man. The thesis most strongly supported by the available experimental evidence is that: 1) activating, 2) avoidant, and 3) learning/memory functions of CRF systems have evolved to serve affective regulatory needs in man and animals. The term affective can be defined as "relating to, arising from, or influencing feelings or emotions" (Webster's Ninth Collegiate Dictionary) whereas the related phrase affective disorder describes a disturbance of mood where mood is defined as a prolonged emotion that colors the whole psychic life (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). The reader familiar with the term homeostasis may be interested in one testable postulate that a certain environmental stimulus intensity...

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Corticotropin releasing factor and its binding protein

Cited by 22 publications

References 40 publications

Amniotic Fluid and Umbilical Cord Plasma Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF), CRF-Binding Protein, Adrenocorticotropin, and Cortisol Concentrations in Intraamniotic Infection and Inflammation at Term

Amniotic Fluid and Umbilical Cord Plasma Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF), CRF-Binding Protein, Adrenocorticotropin, and Cortisol Concentrations in Intraamniotic Infection and Inflammation at Term

Corticotropin Releasing Hormone and Proopiomelanocortin Involvement in the Cutaneous Response to Stress

Corticotropin-Releasing Factor in Brain: A Role in Activation, Arousal, and Affect Regulation

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