Interactions between the melanocortin system and the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis
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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
Published on: September 7, 2013
Niamh M Martin1, Kirsty L Smith, Stephen R Bloom
1Department of Metabolic Medicine, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine at Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK.
Abstract:
Recent studies of transgenic mice and humans have provided compelling evidence for the importance of the hypothalamic melanocortin system in the regulation of energy balance. Energy homeostasis is a balance between food intake (energy input) and energy expenditure. The melanocortin system regulates feeding via effects of the endogenous agonist, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and the endogenous antagonist agouti-related protein (AGRP) on melanocortin 3 and 4 receptors (MC3-Rs and MC4-Rs). It has been demonstrated that the melanocortin system interacts with the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. Thyroid hormones influence metabolism and hence energy expenditure. Therefore, an interaction between the HPT axis and the melanocortin system would allow control of both sides of the energy balance equation, by the regulation of both energy input and energy expenditure. Here we will discuss the evidence demonstrating interactions between the melanocortin system and the HPT axis.
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