Abstract
Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF), a 41 amino acid long hypothalamic neuropeptide discovered by Vale and Rivier (Spiess et al. 1981; Vale et al. 1981), and related urocortin (Urc1-3) are brain neuropeptides that regulate behavioral, autonomic, endocrine, reproductive, metabolic, and immune functions (Grammatopoulos and Chrousos 2002; Hillhouse et al. 2002; Perrin and Vale 1999). In peripheral tissues, they act as local immunomodulators with predominantly proinflammatory actions (Hasse et al. 2007; Slominski 2003b; Slominski et al. 2006c; Theoharides and Cochrane 2004) as well as they directly regulate cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, reproductive, and gestational activities (Hillhouse et al. 2002). These neuropeptides exert their regulatory activities via interaction with CRF receptors, CRF1 and CRF2, which were cloned and initially characterized by Vale’s group and others (Grammatopoulos and Chrousos 2002; Hillhouse and Grammatopoulos 2006; Hillhouse et al. 2002; Perrin and Vale 1999; Slominski et al. 2001).
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Slominski, A.T., Zmijewski, M.A., Skobowiat, C., Zbytek, B., Slominski, R.M., Steketee, J.D. (2012). Corticotropin Signaling System in the Skin. In: Sensing the Environment: Regulation of Local and Global Homeostasis by the Skin's Neuroendocrine System. Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology, vol 212. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19683-6_5
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