Role of the brain melanocortins in blood pressure regulation. 2017

Jussara M do Carmo, and Alexandre A da Silva, and Zhen Wang, and Taolin Fang, and Nicola Aberdein, and Cecilia E Perez de Lara, and John E Hall
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Mississippi Center for Obesity Research, Cardiovascular-Renal Research Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA. Electronic address: jdocarmo@umc.edu.

Melanocortins play an important role in regulating blood pressure (BP) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity as well as energy balance, glucose and other metabolic functions in humans and experimental animals. In experimental models of hypertension with high SNS activity, blockade of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) reduces BP despite causing marked hyperphagia and obesity. Activation of the central nervous system (CNS) pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-MC4R pathway appears to be an important link between obesity, SNS activation and hypertension. Despite having severe obesity, subjects with MC4R deficiency exhibit reductions in BP, heart rate, and urinary catecholamine excretion, as well as attenuated SNS responses to cold stimuli compared to obese subjects with normal MC4R function. In this review we discuss the importance of the brain POMC-MC4R system in regulating SNS activity and BP in obesity and other forms of hypertension. We also highlight potential mechanisms and brain circuitry by which the melanocortin system regulates cardiovascular function.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006973 Hypertension Persistently high systemic arterial BLOOD PRESSURE. Based on multiple readings (BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION), hypertension is currently defined as when SYSTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg or when DIASTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently 90 mm Hg or more. Blood Pressure, High,Blood Pressures, High,High Blood Pressure,High Blood Pressures
D009765 Obesity A status with BODY WEIGHT that is grossly above the recommended standards, usually due to accumulation of excess FATS in the body. The standards may vary with age, sex, genetic or cultural background. In the BODY MASS INDEX, a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 is considered obese, and a BMI greater than 40.0 kg/m2 is considered morbidly obese (MORBID OBESITY).
D011333 Pro-Opiomelanocortin A 30-kDa protein synthesized primarily in the ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND and the HYPOTHALAMUS. It is also found in the skin and other peripheral tissues. Depending on species and tissues, POMC is cleaved by PROHORMONE CONVERTASES yielding various active peptides including ACTH; BETA-LIPOTROPIN; ENDORPHINS; MELANOCYTE-STIMULATING HORMONES; and others (GAMMA-LPH; CORTICOTROPIN-LIKE INTERMEDIATE LOBE PEPTIDE; N-terminal peptide of POMC or NPP). POMC,Pro-Opiocortin,ACTH-Endorphin Precursor,ACTH-beta-Lipotropin Precursor,Corticotropin-beta-Lipotropin Precursor,Endorphin-ACTH Precursor,Opiocortin,Pre-POMC,Pre-pro-opiocortin,Preproopiomelanocortin,Pro-ACTH-Endorphin,Pro-Opio-Melanocortin,Proopiocortin,Proopiomelanocortin,ACTH Endorphin Precursor,ACTH beta Lipotropin Precursor,Corticotropin beta Lipotropin Precursor,Endorphin ACTH Precursor,Pre POMC,Pre pro opiocortin,Pro ACTH Endorphin,Pro Opio Melanocortin,Pro Opiocortin,Pro Opiomelanocortin
D001794 Blood Pressure PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS. Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013564 Sympathetic Nervous System The thoracolumbar division of the autonomic nervous system. Sympathetic preganglionic fibers originate in neurons of the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord and project to the paravertebral and prevertebral ganglia, which in turn project to target organs. The sympathetic nervous system mediates the body's response to stressful situations, i.e., the fight or flight reactions. It often acts reciprocally to the parasympathetic system. Nervous System, Sympathetic,Nervous Systems, Sympathetic,Sympathetic Nervous Systems,System, Sympathetic Nervous,Systems, Sympathetic Nervous
D044105 Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 A melanocortin receptor subtype found primarily in BRAIN. It shows specificity for ALPHA-MSH; BETA-MSH and ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE. Melanocortin Receptor 4,MC4 Receptor,Melanocortin 4 Receptor,Melanocortin-4 Receptor,Receptor, Melanocortin-4,Receptor 4, Melanocortin,Receptor, MC4,Receptor, Melanocortin 4
D053486 Melanocortins Peptides derived from pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) which can stimulate MELANOCYTES or CORTICOTROPHS. Melanocortins include ACTH; ALPHA-MSH; and other peptides such as BETA-MSH and GAMMA-MSH, derived from other fragments of POMC. These peptides act through a variety of MELANOCORTIN RECEPTORS to control different functions including steroidogenesis, energy homeostasis, feeding, and skin pigmentation. Melanocortin

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