We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Melanocortin Peptides: Potential Targets in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
- Authors
Loram, Lisa; Culp, Melissa; Connolly-Strong, Erin; Sturgill-Koszycki, Sheila
- Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease resulting in loss of self-tolerance with multiple organs, such as the kidney, skin, joints, and the central nervous system (CNS), being targeted. Numerous immunosuppressant therapies are currently being used for the treatment of SLE, but their clinical utility is somewhat variable because of the clinical heterogeneity. Melanocortins are a family of peptides derived from the common precursor protein pro-opiomelanocortin. These multifunctional peptides activate five subtypes of melanocortin receptors expressed on immune, skin, muscle, bone, and kidney cells and cells within the CNS. Melanocortin peptides have demonstrated a variety of biologic actions including immunomodulation, melanogenesis, and renoprotection. This review aims to introduce the melanocortin system and explore the mechanisms by which they may be beneficial in diseases such as SLE.
- Subjects
MELANOCORTIN receptors; PEPTIDE analysis; SYSTEMIC lupus erythematosus; IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE agents; MELANOGENESIS; ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC hormone
- Publication
Inflammation, 2015, Vol 38, Issue 1, p260
- ISSN
0360-3997
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10753-014-0029-5