The melanocortinergic neural circuit, known for its influence on energy expenditure and feeding behavior, also plays a role in stress and stress-induced psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and depression. The major contribution is given by the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) subtype, highly expressed in brain regions involved in the control of stress responses. Furthermore, the MC4R appears to profoundly affect the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and it has been also highlighted a functional and anatomical interaction with the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), an important mediator of stress and stress-related behaviors. The MC4R agonists seem to exacerbate stress-inducing anxiety- and depressive-like behavior, while MC4R antagonists have been demonstrated to mitigate such disorders, as shown in several preclinical behavioral tests. The evidence collected in the present review suggests that the melanocortin system, through the MC4R, could possibly modulate behavioral responses to stress, suggesting the use of MC4R antagonists as a possible novel treatment for anxiety and depression induced by stress.

Investigating the role of the central melanocortin system in stress and stress-related disorders / Micioni Di Bonaventura, Emanuela; Botticelli, Luca; Del Bello, Fabio; Giorgioni, Gianfabio; Piergentili, Alessandro; Quaglia, Wilma; Romano, Adele; Gaetani, Silvana; Micioni Di Bonaventura, Maria Vittoria; Cifani, Carlo. - In: PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH. - ISSN 1043-6618. - 185:(2022), p. 106521. [10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106521]

Investigating the role of the central melanocortin system in stress and stress-related disorders

Romano, Adele;Gaetani, Silvana;
2022

Abstract

The melanocortinergic neural circuit, known for its influence on energy expenditure and feeding behavior, also plays a role in stress and stress-induced psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and depression. The major contribution is given by the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) subtype, highly expressed in brain regions involved in the control of stress responses. Furthermore, the MC4R appears to profoundly affect the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and it has been also highlighted a functional and anatomical interaction with the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), an important mediator of stress and stress-related behaviors. The MC4R agonists seem to exacerbate stress-inducing anxiety- and depressive-like behavior, while MC4R antagonists have been demonstrated to mitigate such disorders, as shown in several preclinical behavioral tests. The evidence collected in the present review suggests that the melanocortin system, through the MC4R, could possibly modulate behavioral responses to stress, suggesting the use of MC4R antagonists as a possible novel treatment for anxiety and depression induced by stress.
2022
ASTRESSIN (PubChem CID: 16133798); Anxiety; CRF; Depression; HS014 (PubChem CID: 24868239); HS024 (PubChem CID: 25081552); MC4R; MCL0020 (PubChem CID: 10145571); MCL0042 (PubChem CID: 9917301); MCL0129 (PubChem CID: 6918688); MTII (PubChem CID: 92432); Melanocortin system; NDP-MSH (PubChem CID: 44277697); RO27–3225 (PubChem CID: 9962372); RU486 (PubChem CID: 55245); SHU9119 (PubChem CID: 6440621); Stress
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Investigating the role of the central melanocortin system in stress and stress-related disorders / Micioni Di Bonaventura, Emanuela; Botticelli, Luca; Del Bello, Fabio; Giorgioni, Gianfabio; Piergentili, Alessandro; Quaglia, Wilma; Romano, Adele; Gaetani, Silvana; Micioni Di Bonaventura, Maria Vittoria; Cifani, Carlo. - In: PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH. - ISSN 1043-6618. - 185:(2022), p. 106521. [10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106521]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1687833
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