Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P01189 (beta-endorphin)
 21,003 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Based upon an immunomodulatory role for Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF), a low molecular weight neurohormone, we investigated the effect of CRF on the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) activities of mononuclear cells isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy subjects. The production of both IL-1 and IL-2 was stimulated by a nanomolar concentration of CRF by itself. In addition, CRF augmented the production of IL-1 as induced by lipopolysaccharide and the production of IL-2 as induced by phytohemagglutinin. These results suggest that CRF modulates the function of the cells of the immune system presumably by acting as a blood-borne mediator of the neuroendocrine-immune pathways.
 ...
PMID:Enhancing effect of corticotropin-releasing neurohormone on the production of interleukin-1 and interleukin-2. 229 2

To assess the biological correlates of the precipitation of migraine attacks in the perimenstrual period, plasma beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and cortisol responses to naloxone (8 mg iv) and corticotropin releasing hormone (100 micrograms iv) were evaluated in both the follicular phase and the premenstrual period in 7 patients suffering from menstrual migraine and in 7 healthy, asymptomatic control volunteers. In the controls, naloxone evoked a significant release of both beta-EP (F = 5.86, p less than 0.002) and cortisol (F = 4.43, p less than 0.008), independently of the menstrual cycle phase (F = 0.31 and 1.04, for beta-EP and cortisol, respectively). Menstrual migraine patients, on the other hand, showed a significant hormone response only in the follicular phase, not in the premenstrual period. Corticotropin releasing hormone significantly increased beta-EP and cortisol in both the controls and the menstrual migraine patients, independently of the menstrual cycle phase. In both the naloxone and corticotropin releasing hormone testings, the basal beta-EP levels measured in the premenstrual period were lower than those observed in the follicular phase (p less than 0.02). These data demonstrate a cyclical, premenstrual dysfunction of the hypothalamic control exerted by opioids on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. Impairment of this fundamental adaptive mechanism (involved in stress responses and in pain control) could establish a causal relationship between menstrual-related migraine attacks and premenstrual opioid hyposensitivity.
 ...
PMID:Opioid control of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis cyclically fails in menstrual migraine. 231 51

Corticotropin (ACTH)-releasing factor, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and catecholamines--hormones that stimulate ACTH secretion and cAMP generation--increased cytosolic calcium in AtT-20 cells. The increase in intracellular calcium is presumably a consequence of the stimulated cAMP synthesis, since forskolin, an activator of the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase, and the cAMP analog 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8Br-cAMP) also increased the cytosolic levels of this ion. Pretreatment with somatostatin, a neuropeptide that inhibits stimulation of the adenylate cyclase system and the secretion of ACTH blocked the increase of cytosolic calcium. The effect of 8Br-cAMP, which bypasses the cyclase, was not inhibited by somatostatin pretreatment. The source of the increased calcium appears to be mainly extracellular. This is indicated by the inability of the secretagogues to increase cytosolic calcium in a medium deprived of this ion or in the presence of blockers of voltage-gated calcium channels. The involvement of calcium channels in the calcium rise evoked by the secretagogues was supported by experiments using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. In these experiments 8Br-cAMP increased voltage-dependent calcium currents. These results suggest the following chain of events in the receptor-mediated elevation of cytosolic calcium and the concomitant release of ACTH from AtT-20 cells: hormone-receptor binding----cAMP synthesis----protein kinase activation----calcium channel activation----increase in cytosolic calcium----many steps----ACTH release. Phorbol myristate acetate, a compound which does not stimulate cAMP generation but enhances the release of ACTH in AtT-20 cells, decreased the cytosolic calcium level.
 ...
PMID:Hormone secretagogues increase cytosolic calcium by increasing cAMP in corticotropin-secreting cells. 241 78

Pretreatment of bovine adrenocortical cells with increasing concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) for 3 days resulted in a dose dependent (ED50 congruent to 5 ng/ml) increment in Corticotropin (ACTH) receptors. Moreover, IGF-I pretreatment potentiated the effects of maximal active concentration of ACTH (10(-9) M) on its own receptors. Whereas ACTH (10(-9) M) or IGF-I (50 ng/ml) alone induced a 3- and 2.5-fold increase respectively in ACTH receptors, there was a 7.5 fold increase in the presence of the two peptides. This synergism between ACTH and IGF-I was also observed for the ACTH-induced cortisol response with an increase of 9-, 3- and 20-fold for cells pretreated with ACTH, IGF-I and the two peptides, respectively. However, the effects of both peptides on ACTH-induced cAMP production was only additive. The present results show that ACTH and IGF-I are potent stimulating factors on bovine adrenal cell differentiated functions and that the effects of both peptides are synergistic.
 ...
PMID:Synergistic effects of corticotropin and insulin-like growth factor I on corticotropin receptors and corticotropin responsiveness in cultured bovine adrenocortical cells. 248 Jan 25

Previous reports on patients with endogenous Cushing's syndrome describe low concentrations of the adrenal androgen dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) in adrenal adenoma and in a case of feminizing macronodular hyperplasia. Here we present hormonal data from two adult sisters with Cushing's syndrome as a result of pigmented nodular adrenal dysplasia. Corticotropin concentrations were in the mid-normal range, cortisol production was unaffected by administration of dexamethasone (8 mg/24 h), and baseline concentrations of DHEA-S were less than 0.5 mumol/L. A low concentration of DHEA-S in these and other previously reported patients with Cushing's syndrome correctly predicts the results of dynamic testing. Decreased DHEA-S in a patient with endogenous Cushing's syndrome can be ascertained by assay of a single sample and should prompt consideration of the diagnosis of autonomous bilateral nodular disease as well as adrenal adenoma.
 ...
PMID:Decreased dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in pigmented nodular adrenal dysplasia. 253 Oct 49

Specific binding of prolactin (PRL) by human and guinea pig isolated adrenocortical cells is saturable and reach equilibrium during 60 min. Characteristics of PRL binding by adrenocortical microsomes were determined. A single receptor species related to the high affinity and low binding capacity receptor class was revealed. The PRL-receptor affinities in adrenal cortex and liver are similar (approximately 10(9) M-1). Human adrenals have a higher affinity than that in guinea pigs. PRL increased corticotropin binding by adrenocortical cells of both species. Corticotropin binding rise may be due to the increase in the number of available receptors of low affinity and high capacity.
 ...
PMID:[Receptor of prolactin and its effect on binding of corticotropin in human and guinea pig adrenocortical cells]. 255 51

Previous reports have emphasized the value of bilateral and simultaneous catheterization of the inferior petrosal sinus for the measurement of both basal and oCRH (ovine Corticotropin Releasing Hormone) stimulated ACTH levels to determine the site of the microadenoma in the pituitary and for the differential diagnosis of Cushing's disease. This method is mainly employed in those patients whose hormonal studies are ambiguous and whose CT-scans and NMR (Nuclear-Magnetic-Resonance) results yield inconclusive or negative findings. Ten patients were studied: 9 were under evaluation for Cushing's disease and one was a "relapse" (4 yrs after transsphenoidal microadenomectomy). In all patients, except two who are awaiting surgery and one who was a "relapse", surgical findings were consistent with the ipsilateral hypersecretion (one had a central microadenoma). These results confirm that bilateral and simultaneous catheterization of the inferior petrosal sinus associated with a oCRH stimulus could be of great help in localizing the site of the adenoma and therefore improve the results of surgery. Moreover, this methodology may be of great value in diagnosing ectopic secretion.
 ...
PMID:[Use of catheterization of the inferior petrosal sinus in the diagnosis of Cushing's disease]. 255 88

Natural killer cell activity (NKCA) was significantly reduced in a group of depressed patients, melancholic subtype, compared to sex- and age-matched controls. Corticotropin and cortisol values were significantly higher in the depressed subjects than in the controls, but no correlation between high hormone levels and low immunological activity was found in the patients.
 ...
PMID:Reduced natural killer cell activity in major depression: neuroendocrine implications. 255 56

Corticotropin (ACTH) has two main actions in mammalian adrenal cortex: acute stimulation of glucocorticoids secretion and trophic effect which allow the expression of genes encoding for the steroidogenic enzymes. The ACTH membrane bound receptor was one of the first to be demonstrated by direct binding of labeled hormone to subcellular preparations of the adrenal cortex. However, detection and characterization of physiological relevance to ACTH receptors has been difficult, because of the low biological activity of the labeled ACTH. Introduction of a bulky iodine atom into Tyr2 and the oxidation of Met4 appear to contribute most to the loss of activity. These difficulties were overcome recently by using an [125I]-ACTH labeled only in Tyr23, which retains full biological activity. Using this labeled hormone, physiologically relevant ACTH receptors, with high affinity (KD congruent to 10-10M) and low capacity (congruent to 2000 sites/cell) have been characterized in several mammals. A second site of low affinity (KD congruent to 10(-7M) and high capacity, has been found in some studies but the significance of this second site is unknown since it cannot be related to any physiological response of adrenal cells to ACTH. In contrast with the loss of receptors and desensitization of target cells caused by most polypeptide hormones, ACTH seems to regulate positively its own receptors and the cAMP response. The molecular weight of the ACTH receptor appears to be between 83 and 100 KD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:[ACTH receptors]. 255 6

Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation of ACTH release and cyclic AMP-mediated events involved in the control of ACTH release were compared in sham-operated and adrenalectomized rats. CRH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was decreased in pituitary homogenates from adrenalectomized animals. CRH-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation was essentially abolished and CRH-stimulated cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) activity was decreased in freshly prepared anterior pituitary cells from adrenalectomized animals. Basal and CRH-stimulated ACTH release was elevated in these cells. Since ACTH release is increased in adrenalectomized rats despite the down regulation of CRH-linked pituitary mechanisms, we speculate that the site of action of disinhibition by corticosterone of ACTH release (or synthesis) following adrenalectomy is distal to the generation of cyclic AMP and/or that non-CRH mediated mechanisms assume a greater role in ACTH regulation following adrenalectomy.
 ...
PMID:Effects of adrenalectomy on CRH regulation of ACTH release: adenylate cyclase activity, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity and ACTH release. 256 46


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>