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The central melanocortin system and fever
Jeffrey B Tatro1, Partha S Sinha
1Department of Medicine and the Tupper Research Institute, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA. jtatro@tufts-nemc.org
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|July 10, 2003
Summary
Melanocortins centrally regulate fever and illness responses. Targeting melanocortin receptors may offer new treatments for inflammatory diseases with metabolic wasting.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Fever is an ancient host defense mechanism against pathogens.
- Melanocortins are endogenous compounds that modulate physiological responses.
- Central melanocortin receptors, particularly melanocortin-4, are involved in thermoregulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of central melanocortins in fever and associated metabolic changes.
- To explore the potential of targeting melanocortin receptors for therapeutic benefit.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on melanocortin function in fever and energy balance.
- Analysis of neuroanatomic and functional data related to melanocortin pathways.
Main Results:
- Central melanocortin agonists inhibit fever by acting on hypothalamic receptors.
- Endogenous melanocortins act as fever modulators and mediate illness-induced anorexia.
- Melanocortin actions are linked to both anti-inflammatory effects and thermoregulation.
Conclusions:
- Melanocortins play a dual role in inflammation, affecting both fever and energy balance.
- Understanding these roles may lead to novel pharmacotherapeutic strategies targeting melanocortin receptor subtypes.
- Selective targeting could benefit diseases with neuroinflammatory and metabolic wasting components.