Melanocortin receptors
Melanocortin receptors are a group of G-protein-coupled receptors that mediate the effects of melanocortins - melanotropins (MSH) and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). Five of these receptors are known to date, abbreviated to MC1R to MC5R, and more may be discovered:
- Melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R): isexpressedon melanocytes and controls skin tanning. This receptor is encoded by the extension locus .
- Melanocortin-2 receptor (MC2R): This receptor is found in the adrenal cortex and there mediates the effects of ACTH (release of glucocorticoids ). It is therefore also called the ACTH receptor.
- Melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R): This receptor is expressed in the brain (especially in regions of the hypothalamus near the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis ), the placenta , the intestinal tissue, but not in the adrenal cortex or in melanocytes. It isactivatedby α-MSH , β-MSH , γ-MSH and ACTH and is integrated into vegetative regulations such as the feeling of hunger and satiety and possibly the limitation of the fever reaction .
- Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R): This receptor (like MC3R) is expressed in the brain (especially in regions of the hypothalamus near the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis ), in the intestinal tissue, but not in the adrenal cortex, the placenta or in melanocytes . It isactivatedby α-MSH , β-MSH and ACTH and is integrated into vegetative regulations such as the suppression of the fever reaction , the feeling of hunger and satiety, and the development of the libido .
- Melanocortin-5 receptor (MC5R)
In addition to its effect on MC2R, ACTH is a potent agonist for all melanocortin receptors, including central ones. α-MSH is an agonist for MC1R, MC3R and MC4R, γ-MSH is an agonist for MC3R only.
Web links
- Melanocortin receptors on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (Pathways)
- Melanocortin receptors introduction (IUPHAR) International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology
Individual evidence
- ↑ JB Tatro, PS Sinha: The Central Melanocortin System and Fever . In: Annals New York Academy of Sciences 994, 2003, pp. 246-257, PMID 12851323