α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone and acute renal failure

alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) is an endogenous anti-inflammatory cytokine that inhibits all major forms of inflammation. alpha-MSH level is increased at sites of inflammation in humans, and is produced in the pituitary and in macrophages. The effects of alpha-MSH are mediated by melanocortin receptors found on macrophages, neutrophils, and renal tubules. alpha-MSH inhibited ischemic acute renal failure in mice and rats, even when started 6 h after injury. alpha-MSH acts, in part, by inhibiting the maladaptive activation of genes that cause inflammatory and cytotoxic renal injury. However, alpha-MSH is effective even in the absence of neutrophils, suggesting that alpha-MSH also acts directly on renal tubules. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 7:413-417. (C) 1998 Lippincott-Raven Publishers.