Corticotropin-releasing hormone

Corticotropin-releasing hormone
Identifiers
Symbol	CRH
Entrez	1392
HUGO	2355
OMIM	122560
RefSeq	NM_000756
UniProt	P06850
Other data
Locus	Chr. 8 q13

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), originally named corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), and also called corticoliberin, is a polypeptide hormone and neurotransmitter involved in the stress response.

Hormonal actions

CRH is produced by neuroendocrine cells in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and is released from neurosecretory terminals of these neurons into the primary capillary plexus of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system. The portal system carries the CRH to the anterior lobe of the pituitary, where it stimulates corticotropes to secrete corticotropin (ACTH) and other biologically active substances (for example β-endorphin).

ά-helical CRH-(9--41) acts as a CRH antagonist^[1].

Psychopharmacy

The CRH-1 receptor antagonist pexacerfont is currently under investigation for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in women^[2].

Role in parturition

CRH is also synthesized by the placenta and seems to determine the duration of pregnancy^[3].

Structure

The 41-amino acid sequence of CRH was first discovered in sheep by Vale et al in 1981^[4]. Its full sequence is

SQEPPISLDLTFHLLREVLEMTKADQLAQQAHSNRKLLDIA

See also

• Corticotropin releasing hormone receptor
• Proopiomelanocortin
• Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

References

1. ^ Santos, Javier, Paul R. Saunders, Nico P. M. Hanssen, Ping-Chang Yang, Derrick Yates, Jack A. Groot, and Mary H. Perdue. Corticotropin-releasing hormone mimics stress-induced colonic epithelial pathophysiology in the rat. Am. J. Physiol. 277 (Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 40): G391-G399, 1999
2. ^ http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00481325?order=31
3. ^ http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/H/
4. Hypothalamus.html#CRH
5. ^ Vale,W., Spiess,J., Rivier,C. and Rivier,J. Characterization of a 41-residue ovine hypothalamic peptide that stimulates secretion of corticotropin and beta-endorphin Science 213 (4514), 1394-1397 (1981)

Endocrine system: hormones/endocrine glands (Peptide hormones, Steroid hormones)
Hypothalamic-pituitary	Hypothalamus: TRH, CRH , GnRH, GHRH, somatostatin, dopamine - Posterior pituitary: vasopressin, oxytocin - Anterior pituitary: α (FSH, LH, TSH), GH, prolactin, POMC (ACTH, MSH, endorphins, lipotropin)
Adrenal axis	Adrenal medulla: epinephrine, norepinephrine - Adrenal cortex: aldosterone, cortisol, DHEA
Thyroid axis	Thyroid: thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) - calcitonin - Parathyroid: PTH
Gonadal axis	Testis: testosterone, AMH, inhibin - Ovary: estradiol, progesterone, inhibin/activin, relaxin (pregnancy)
Other end. glands	Pancreas: glucagon, insulin, somatostatin - Pineal gland: melatonin
Non-end. glands	Placenta: hCG, HPL, estrogen, progesterone - Kidney: renin, EPO, calcitriol, prostaglandin - Heart atrium: ANP - Stomach: gastrin, ghrelin - Duodenum: CCK, GIP, secretin, motilin, VIP - Ileum: enteroglucagon - Adipose tissue: leptin, adiponectin, resistin - Thymus: Thymosin - Thymopoietin - Skeleton: Osteocalcin - Liver/other: Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1, IGF-2)
Target-derived	NGF, BDNF, NT-3

Peptides: neuropeptides
Hypothalamic	Somatostatin - CRH - GnRH - GHRH - Orexins - TRH - POMC (ACTH, MSH, Lipotropin)
Gastrointestinal hormones	Cholecystokinin - Gastric inhibitory polypeptide - Gastrin - Motilin - Secretin - Vasoactive intestinal peptide
Other hormones	Vasopressin - Calcitonin -
Other	Angiotensin - Bombesin/Neuromedin B - Calcitonin gene-related peptide - Carnosine - Delta sleep-inducing peptide - FMRFamide - Galanin - Gastrin releasing peptide - Kinins (Bradykinin, Tachykinins ) - Neuromedin (B, N, U) - Neuropeptide Y - Neurophysins - Neurotensin - Opioid peptide - Pancreatic polypeptide - Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide