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Ulisse S, Baldini E, Pironi D, Gagliardi F, Tripodi D, Lauro A, Carbotta S, Tarroni D, D’Armiento M, Morrone A, Forte F, Frattaroli F, Persechino S, Odorisio T, D’Andrea V, Lori E, Sorrenti S. Is Melanoma Progression Affected by Thyroid Diseases? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710036. [PMID: 36077430 PMCID: PMC9456309 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical and epidemiological evidence indicate a relationship between thyroid diseases and melanoma. In particular, the hypothyroidism condition appears to promote melanoma spread, which suggests a protective role of thyroid hormones against disease progression. In addition, experimental data suggest that, in addition to thyroid hormones, other hormonal players of the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis, namely the thyrotropin releasing hormone and the thyrotropin, are likely to affect melanoma cells behavior. This information warrants further clinical and experimental studies in order to build a precise pattern of action of the HPT hormones on melanoma cells. An improved knowledge of the involved molecular mechanism(s) could lead to a better and possibly personalized clinical management of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Ulisse
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Enke Baldini
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Pironi
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Gagliardi
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Tripodi
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Augusto Lauro
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Sabino Carbotta
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Danilo Tarroni
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo D’Armiento
- Scientific Direction, IRCCS San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Aldo Morrone
- Scientific Direction, IRCCS San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Flavio Forte
- Urology Department, M.G. Vannini Hospital, 00177 Rome, Italy
| | - Flaminia Frattaroli
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Severino Persechino
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Teresa Odorisio
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cell Biology, Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy
| | - Vito D’Andrea
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Lori
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Sorrenti
- Department of Surgical Sciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Scheau C, Draghici C, Ilie MA, Lupu M, Solomon I, Tampa M, Georgescu SR, Caruntu A, Constantin C, Neagu M, Caruntu C. Neuroendocrine Factors in Melanoma Pathogenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13092277. [PMID: 34068618 PMCID: PMC8126040 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Melanoma is a very aggressive and fatal malignant tumor. While curable if diagnosed in its early stages, advanced melanoma, despite the complex therapeutic approaches, is associated with one of the highest mortality rates. Hence, more and more studies have focused on mechanisms that may contribute to melanoma development and progression. Various studies suggest a role played by neuroendocrine factors which can act directly on tumor cells, modulating their proliferation and metastasis capability, or indirectly through immune or inflammatory processes that impact disease progression. However, there are still multiple areas to explore and numerous unknown features to uncover. A detailed exploration of the mechanisms by which neuroendocrine factors can influence the clinical course of the disease could open up new areas of biomedical research and may lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches in melanoma. Abstract Melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin cancers with a sharp rise in incidence in the last decades, especially in young people. Recognized as a significant public health issue, melanoma is studied with increasing interest as new discoveries in molecular signaling and receptor modulation unlock innovative treatment options. Stress exposure is recognized as an important component in the immune-inflammatory interplay that can alter the progression of melanoma by regulating the release of neuroendocrine factors. Various neurotransmitters, such as catecholamines, glutamate, serotonin, or cannabinoids have also been assessed in experimental studies for their involvement in the biology of melanoma. Alpha-MSH and other neurohormones, as well as neuropeptides including substance P, CGRP, enkephalin, beta-endorphin, and even cellular and molecular agents (mast cells and nitric oxide, respectively), have all been implicated as potential factors in the development, growth, invasion, and dissemination of melanoma in a variety of in vitro and in vivo studies. In this review, we provide an overview of current evidence regarding the intricate effects of neuroendocrine factors in melanoma, including data reported in recent clinical trials, exploring the mechanisms involved, signaling pathways, and the recorded range of effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Scheau
- Department of Physiology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (C.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Carmen Draghici
- Dermatology Research Laboratory, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (C.D.); (M.A.I.); (M.L.); (I.S.)
| | - Mihaela Adriana Ilie
- Dermatology Research Laboratory, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (C.D.); (M.A.I.); (M.L.); (I.S.)
| | - Mihai Lupu
- Dermatology Research Laboratory, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (C.D.); (M.A.I.); (M.L.); (I.S.)
| | - Iulia Solomon
- Dermatology Research Laboratory, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (C.D.); (M.A.I.); (M.L.); (I.S.)
| | - Mircea Tampa
- Department of Dermatology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (M.T.); (S.R.G.)
| | - Simona Roxana Georgescu
- Department of Dermatology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (M.T.); (S.R.G.)
| | - Ana Caruntu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, “Carol Davila” Central Military Emergency Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Titu Maiorescu” University, 031593 Bucharest, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Carolina Constantin
- Immunology Department, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (C.C.); (M.N.)
- Department of Pathology, Colentina University Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Monica Neagu
- Immunology Department, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (C.C.); (M.N.)
- Department of Pathology, Colentina University Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
- Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 076201 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Constantin Caruntu
- Department of Physiology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (C.S.); (C.C.)
- Department of Dermatology, “Prof. N. Paulescu” National Institute of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, 011233 Bucharest, Romania
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O'Sullivan JDB, Nicu C, Picard M, Chéret J, Bedogni B, Tobin DJ, Paus R. The biology of human hair greying. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 96:107-128. [PMID: 32965076 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hair greying (canities) is one of the earliest, most visible ageing-associated phenomena, whose modulation by genetic, psychoemotional, oxidative, senescence-associated, metabolic and nutritional factors has long attracted skin biologists, dermatologists, and industry. Greying is of profound psychological and commercial relevance in increasingly ageing populations. In addition, the onset and perpetuation of defective melanin production in the human anagen hair follicle pigmentary unit (HFPU) provides a superb model for interrogating the molecular mechanisms of ageing in a complex human mini-organ, and greying-associated defects in bulge melanocyte stem cells (MSCs) represent an intriguing system of neural crest-derived stem cell senescence. Here, we emphasize that human greying invariably begins with the gradual decline in melanogenesis, including reduced tyrosinase activity, defective melanosome transfer and apoptosis of HFPU melanocytes, and is thus a primary event of the anagen hair bulb, not the bulge. Eventually, the bulge MSC pool becomes depleted as well, at which stage greying becomes largely irreversible. There is still no universally accepted model of human hair greying, and the extent of genetic contributions to greying remains unclear. However, oxidative damage likely is a crucial driver of greying via its disruption of HFPU melanocyte survival, MSC maintenance, and of the enzymatic apparatus of melanogenesis itself. While neuroendocrine factors [e.g. alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), ß-endorphin, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)], and micropthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) are well-known regulators of human hair follicle melanocytes and melanogenesis, how exactly these and other factors [e.g. thyroid hormones, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), P-cadherin, peripheral clock activity] modulate greying requires more detailed study. Other important open questions include how HFPU melanocytes age intrinsically, how psychoemotional stress impacts this process, and how current insights into the gerontobiology of the human HFPU can best be translated into retardation or reversal of greying.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D B O'Sullivan
- Dr. Philip Frost Department for Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, 33136, U.S.A
| | - Carina Nicu
- Dr. Philip Frost Department for Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, 33136, U.S.A
| | - Martin Picard
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 622 W 168th Street, PH1540N, New York, 10032, U.S.A
| | - Jérémy Chéret
- Dr. Philip Frost Department for Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, 33136, U.S.A
| | - Barbara Bedogni
- Dr. Philip Frost Department for Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, 33136, U.S.A
| | - Desmond J Tobin
- Charles Institute of Dermatology, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Ralf Paus
- Dr. Philip Frost Department for Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, 33136, U.S.A.,Monasterium Laboratory, Skin & Hair Research Solutions GmbH, Münster, D-48149, Germany.,Centre for Dermatology Research, NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, U.K
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Maire C, Vercambre-Darras S, Devos P, D’Herbomez M, Dubucquoi S, Mortier L. Metastatic melanoma: spontaneous occurrence of auto antibodies is a good prognosis factor in a prospective cohort. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2011; 27:92-6. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2011.04364.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Gáspár E, Nguyen-Thi KT, Hardenbicker C, Tiede S, Plate C, Bodó E, Knuever J, Funk W, Bíró T, Paus R. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone selectively stimulates human hair follicle pigmentation. J Invest Dermatol 2011; 131:2368-77. [PMID: 21956127 DOI: 10.1038/jid.2011.221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In amphibians, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulates skin melanophores by inducing secretion of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in the pituitary gland. However, it is unknown whether this tripeptide neurohormone exerts any direct effects on pigment cells, namely, on human melanocytes, under physiological conditions. Therefore, we have investigated whether TRH stimulates pigment production in organ-cultured human hair follicles (HFs), the epithelium of which expresses both TRH and its receptor, and/or in full-thickness human skin in situ. TRH stimulated melanin synthesis, tyrosinase transcription and activity, melanosome formation, melanocyte dendricity, gp100 immunoreactivity, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor expression in human HFs in a pituitary gland-independent manner. TRH also stimulated proliferation, gp100 expression, tyrosinase activity, and dendricity of isolated human HF melanocytes. However, intraepidermal melanogenesis was unaffected. As TRH upregulated the intrafollicular production of "pituitary" neurohormones (proopiomelanocortin transcription and ACTH immunoreactivity) and as agouti-signaling protein counteracted TRH-induced HF pigmentation, these pigmentary TRH effects may be mediated in part by locally generated melanocortins and/or by MC-1 signaling. Our study introduces TRH as a novel, potent, selective, and evolutionarily highly conserved neuroendocrine factor controlling human pigmentation in situ. This physiologically relevant and melanocyte sub-population-specific neuroendocrine control of human pigmentation deserves clinical exploration, e.g., for preventing or reversing hair graying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erzsébet Gáspár
- Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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Abstract
The role of neurohormones and neuropeptides in human hair follicle (HF) pigmentation extends far beyond the control of melanin synthesis by α-MSH and ACTH and includes melanoblast differentiation, reactive oxygen species scavenging, maintenance of HF immune privilege, and remodeling of the HF pigmentary unit (HFPU). It is now clear that human HFs are not only a target of multiple neuromediators, but also are a major non-classical production site for neurohormones such as CRH, proopiomelanocortin, ACTH, α-MSH, ß-endorphin, TRH, and melatonin. Moreover, human HFs have established a functional peripheral equivalent of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. By charting the author's own meanderings through the jungle of hair pigmentation research, the current perspectives essay utilizes four clinical observations - hair repigmentation, canities, poliosis, and 'overnight greying'- as points of entry into the enigmas and challenges of .pigmentary HF neuroendocrinology. After synthesizing key principles and defining major open questions in the field, selected research avenues are delineated that appear clinically most promising. In this context, novel neuroendocrinological strategies to retard or reverse greying and to reduce damage to the HFPU are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Paus
- Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
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Abstract
SummaryThe physiological role of thyreoliberin (TRH) is the preservation of homeostasis within four systems (i) the hypothalamic-hypophsysiotropic neuroendocrine system, (ii) the brain stem/midbrain/spinal cord system, (iii) the limbic/cortical system, and (iv) the chronobiological system. Thus TRH, via various cellular mechanisms, regulates a wide range of biological processes (arousal, sleep, learning, locomotive activity, mood) and possesses the potential for unique and widespread applications for treatment of human illnesses. Since the therapeutic potential of TRH is limited by its pharmacological profile (enzymatic instability, short half-life, undesirable effects), several synthetic analogues of TRH were constructed and studied in mono- or adjunct therapy of central nervous system (CNS) disturbances. The present article summarizes the current state of understanding of the physiological role of TRH and describes its putative role in clinical indications in CNS maladies with a focus on the action of TRH analogues.
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Slominski A, Plonka PM, Pisarchik A, Smart JL, Tolle V, Wortsman J, Low MJ. Preservation of eumelanin hair pigmentation in proopiomelanocortin-deficient mice on a nonagouti (a/a) genetic background. Endocrinology 2005; 146:1245-53. [PMID: 15564334 PMCID: PMC1201461 DOI: 10.1210/en.2004-0733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The original strain of proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-deficient mice (Pomc-/-) was generated by homologous recombination in 129X1/SvJ (A(w)/A(w))-derived embryonic stem cells using a targeting construct that deleted exon 3, encoding all the known functional POMC-derived peptides including alpha MSH, from the Pomc gene. Although these Pomc-/- mice exhibited adrenal hypoplasia and obesity similar to the syndrome of POMC deficiency in children, their agouti coat color was only subtly altered. To further investigate the mechanism of hair pigmentation in the absence of POMC peptides, we studied wild-type (Pomc+/+), heterozygous (Pomc+/-), and homozygous (Pomc-/-) mice on a nonagouti (a/a) 129;B6 hybrid genetic background. All three genotypes had similar black fur pigmentation with yellow hairs behind the ears, around the nipples, and in the perianal area characteristic of inbred C57BL/6 mice. Histologic and electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry examination demonstrated that hair follicles in back skin of Pomc-/- mice developed with normal structure and eumelanin pigmentation; corresponding molecular analyses, however, excluded local production of alpha MSH and ACTH because neither Pomc nor putative Pomc pseudogene mRNAs were detected in the skin. Thus, 129;B6 Pomc null mutant mice produce abundant eumelanin hair pigmentation despite their congenital absence of melanocortin ligands. These results suggest that either the mouse melanocortin receptor 1 has sufficient basal activity to trigger and sustain eumelanogenesis in vivo or that redundant nonmelanocortin pathway(s) compensate for the melanocortin deficiency. Whereas the latter implies feedback control of melanogenesis, it is also possible that the two mechanisms operate jointly in hair follicles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Malcolm J. Low
- Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Malcolm J. Low, M.D., Ph.D., Vollum Institute, L-474, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239-3098. E-mail:
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Ellerhorst JA, Naderi AA, Johnson MK, Pelletier P, Prieto VG, Diwan AH, Johnson MM, Gunn DC, Yekell S, Grimm EA. Expression of thyrotropin-releasing hormone by human melanoma and nevi. Clin Cancer Res 2005; 10:5531-6. [PMID: 15328193 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-03-0368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is a tripeptide hormone produced by the hypothalamus in response to hypothyroidism. RNA transcripts for the TRH prohormone have recently been described in melanoma cell lines. To expand these findings, we have examined cultured melanoma cells and melanocytes, human melanoma tumors, and nevi for the expression of TRH. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Five melanoma cell lines were analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR/Southern blotting for preproTRH message. The same melanoma lines and two melanocyte lines were examined by immunocytochemistry for TRH protein expression and for growth response to exogenous TRH. Immunohistochemistry was used to test for TRH protein in sections of 19 melanomas, 33 dysplastic nevi, and 27 benign nevi. RESULTS TRH message and protein were detected in all melanoma cell lines examined. Melanocytes were also found to express TRH protein. Four of the five melanoma cell lines but neither melanocyte line responded with a increase in proliferation to low concentrations of exogenous TRH. TRH immunoreactivity was observed in 12 of 19 melanomas (63%), 23 of 33 (69.7%) dysplastic nevi, and 14 of 27 (51.9%) benign nevi. Expression in dysplastic nevi was significantly greater than in benign nevi. Upon separate analysis of nevi from melanoma patients, the difference between dysplastic and benign nevi was even more significant. However, in healthy individuals, no difference between dysplastic and benign nevi was observed. Furthermore, dysplastic nevi from melanoma patients had a significantly higher percentage of TRH-positive cells when compared with healthy individuals. CONCLUSIONS TRH is commonly expressed by melanomas and dysplastic nevi and may function as a melanoma autocrine growth factor. The presence of TRH in dysplastic nevi may be predictive for the development of melanoma. Our findings have significant clinical and biological implications for future research into the early stages of melanoma initiation and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Ellerhorst
- Department of Bioimmunotherapy, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
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Yu Y, Jawa A, Pan W, Kastin AJ. Effects of peptides, with emphasis on feeding, pain, and behavior A 5-year (1999-2003) review of publications in Peptides. Peptides 2004; 25:2257-89. [PMID: 15572212 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2004.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2004] [Accepted: 09/21/2004] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Novel effects of naturally occurring peptides are continuing to be discovered, and their mechanisms of actions as well as interactions with other substances, organs, and systems have been elucidated. Synthetic analogs may have actions similar or antagonistic to the endogenous peptides, and both the native peptides and analogs have potential as drugs or drug targets. The journal Peptides publishes many leading articles on the structure-activity relationship of peptides as well as outstanding reviews on some families of peptides. Complementary to the reviews, here we extract information from the original papers published during the past five years in Peptides (1999-2003) to summarize the effects of different classes of peptides, their modulation by other chemicals and various pathophysiological states, and the mechanisms by which the effects are exerted. Special attention is given to peptides related to feeding, pain, and other behaviors. By presenting in condensed form the effects of peptides which are essential for systems biology, we hope that this summary of existing knowledge will encourage additional novel research to be presented in Peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongmei Yu
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA
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Abstract
Among patients with advanced melanoma, the development of autoimmune phenomena or of hypothyroidism during therapy has been associated with a favourable outcome. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of autoimmunity and of hypothyroidism in the melanoma population as a whole and to determine if these disease states confer a survival advantage for patients with metastatic disease. We report our findings in the uveal melanoma population. The study population (n = 91) consisted of all patients registered at this institution with the diagnosis of uveal melanoma during a 2 year study period. Eight (8.8%) had a systemic autoimmune disease; 12 (13.2%) were hypothyroid, including 9/46 (19.6%) females. Survival of the stage 4 patients was determined from diagnosis of the primary tumour (SvDx) and from diagnosis of metastatic disease (SvMt), and was compared to that of age/sex matched stage 4 controls. For autoimmune patients versus controls, the median SvDx was 111 months vs 37 months (P = 0.2734) and the median SvMt was 17 months vs 4 months (P = 0.0887). For the hypothyroid patients versus controls, the median SvDx was 58 months vs 49 months (P = 0.5348) and the median SvMt was 4 months vs 8 months (P = 0.2437). We conclude that there is a trend toward longer survival from the date of metastasis in uveal melanoma patients with a systemic autoimmune disorder, suggesting that systemic autoimmunity may play a role in modifying the activity of established metastases. This trend is not seen among the uveal melanoma patients with hypothyroidism. The high prevalence of hypothyroidism suggests a possible molecular interaction between the two disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Ellerhorst
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Box 79, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- H B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Sweden
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Wikberg JE, Muceniece R, Mandrika I, Prusis P, Lindblom J, Post C, Skottner A. New aspects on the melanocortins and their receptors. Pharmacol Res 2000; 42:393-420. [PMID: 11023702 DOI: 10.1006/phrs.2000.0725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 257] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Knowledge of melanocortins and their receptors has increased tremendously over the last few years. The cloning of five melanocortin receptors, and the discovery of two endogenous antagonists for these receptors, agouti and agouti-related peptide, have sparked intense interest in the field. Here we give a comprehensive review of the pharmacology, physiology and molecular biology of the melanocortins and their receptors. In particular, we review the roles of the melanocortins in the immune system, behaviour, feeding, the cardiovascular system and melanoma. Moreover, evidence is discussed suggesting that while many of the actions of the melanocortins are mediated via melanocortin receptors, some appear to be mediated via mechanisms distinct from melanocortin receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Wikberg
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Box 591 BMC, SE751 24, Sweden.
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Catania A, Airaghi L, Colombo G, Lipton JM. Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in normal human physiology and disease states. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2000; 11:304-8. [PMID: 10996524 DOI: 10.1016/s1043-2760(00)00296-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, research in animal models has indicated that alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) has potent anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, recent data show that the peptide has antimicrobial effects and probably contributes to innate immunity. alpha-MSH, which is produced by many extrapituitary human cells, should no longer be considered solely a pituitary hormone; rather, it should be viewed as a ubiquitous modulatory peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Catania
- Third Division of Internal Medicine, Padiglione Granelli, Ospedale Maggiore di Milano IRCCS, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy.
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Identification of the binding pocket for the TRH peptide in the melanocortin 1 receptor. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2000. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02447861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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