Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

From Anvita Health Wiki

Contents 1 More Specific Terms 2 Function 3 Expression 4 Pharmacology 5 More General Terms 6 Additional Terms 7 References

More Specific Terms

• Acthar (ACTH)

Function

• derived from pro-opiomelanocortin ( POMC)
• induces secretion of of corticoteroids ( cortisol, DHEA) from adrenal cortex
• cleaved into alpha-MSH & CLIP

Expression

• secreted from the anterior pituitary in response to corticotropin releasing hormone ( CRH) & antidiuretic hormone ( ADH)
• secreted by cells of the immune system ( T-cells, B-cells, macrophages)
• 3 major factors regulating ACTH secretion:
• diurnal rhythm

• early morning cortisol & ACTH levels are highest
• cortisol & ACTH levels are lower in the evening

• cortisol feed back inhibition
• stress (including fever, hypotension, hypoxia will stimulate ACTH secretion
• 1/2 life in human blood is 10 minutes

Pharmacology

• see Acthar

More General Terms

• anterior pituitary hormone
• peptide precursor

Additional Terms

• ACTH in plasma
• adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor; ACTH receptor; ACTH-R; adrenocorticotropin receptor; melanocortin receptor 2; MC2-R (MC2R ACTHR)
• corticotropin-releasing factor; corticoliberin; CRF; corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
• cosyntropin (Cortrosyn)
• ectopic ACTH syndrome
• pituitary adenoma/ACTH secreting

References

1. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998
2. Wikipedia, Adrenocoticotropic hormone [1]

adrenocorticotropic hormone; corticotropin; adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)