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adrenocorticotropic hormone; corticotropin; adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)
Function:
- derived from pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)
- induces secretion 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:
1) diurnal rhythm
a) early morning cortisol & ACTH levels are highest
b) cortisol & ACTH levels are lower in the evening
2) cortisol feed back inhibition
3) stress (including fever, hypotension, hypoxia will stimulate ACTH secretion
4) 1/2 life in human blood is 10 minutes
Pharmacology: see Acthar
Laboratory:
- corticotropin Ag in tissue
- corticotropin in amniotic fluid
- corticotropin in serum
- ACTH in plasma
Related
ACTH (corticotropin) in plasma
adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor; ACTH receptor; ACTH-R; adrenocorticotropin receptor; melanocortin receptor 2; MC2-R (MC2R ACTHR)
corticotropin Ag in tissue
corticotropin-releasing factor; corticoliberin; CRF; corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
cosyntropin (Cortrosyn)
ectopic ACTH syndrome
pituitary adenoma/ACTH secreting
Specific
Acthar (ACTH)
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Parenteral
General
anterior pituitary hormone
peptide precursor
Properties
COMPARTMENT: plasma
MOTIF: proteolytic site
PRECURSOR-FOR: alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH)
COMPARTMENT: extracellular compartment
corticotropin-like intermediary peptide (CLIP)
COMPARTMENT: extracellular compartment
References
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, American
College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998
- Wikipedia, Adrenocoticotropic hormone
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACTH