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Gravina AG, Pellegrino R, Durante T, Palladino G, Imperio G, D'Amico G, Trotta MC, Dallio M, Romeo M, D'Amico M, Federico A. The Melanocortin System in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Insights into Its Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potentials. Cells 2023; 12:1889. [PMID: 37508552 PMCID: PMC10378568 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin system is a complex set of molecular mediators and receptors involved in many physiological and homeostatic processes. These include the regulation of melanogenesis, steroidogenesis, neuromodulation and the modulation of inflammatory processes. In the latter context, the system has assumed importance in conditions of chronic digestive inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), in which numerous experiences have been accumulated in mouse models of colitis. Indeed, information on how such a system can counteract colitis inflammation and intervene in the complex cytokine imbalance in the intestinal microenvironment affected by chronic inflammatory damage has emerged. This review summarises the evidence acquired so far and highlights that molecules interfering with the melanocortin system could represent new drugs for treating IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Gerarda Gravina
- Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Raffaele Pellegrino
- Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Tommaso Durante
- Mental Health Department, S. Pio Hospital, Via dell'Angelo, 82100 Benevento, Italy
| | - Giovanna Palladino
- Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Imperio
- Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | | | - Maria Consiglia Trotta
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Marcello Dallio
- Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Romeo
- Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Michele D'Amico
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Federico
- Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
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