α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone alleviates pathological cardiac remodeling via melanocortin 5 receptor

Anni Suominen, Guillem Saldo Rubio, Saku Ruohonen, Zoltán Szabó, Lotta Pohjolainen, Bishwa Ghimire, Suvi T. Ruohonen, Karla Saukkonen, Jani Ijas, Sini Skarp, Leena Kaikkonen, Minying Cai, Sharon L. Wardlaw, Heikki Ruskoaho, Virpi Talman, Eriika Savontaus, Risto Kerkelä, Petteri Rinne

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

(Figure presented.) α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) regulates several physiological functions by interacting with melanocortin receptors (MC1-R–MC5-R). This study shows that α-MSH is expressed in the heart and it protects against pathological cardiac remodeling by activating MC5-R in cardiomyocytes. α-MSH production declines in the failing mouse heart. Pharmacological administration of α-MSH alleviates pathological cardiac hypertrophy induced by pressure overload. The protective effects of α-MSH are mediated by the melanocortin 5 receptor (MC5-R), which is expressed in mouse and human cardiac myocytes. Silencing MC5-R in cardiomyocytes renders mice susceptible to cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis after pressure overload.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1987-2014
Number of pages28
JournalEMBO Reports
Volume25
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 12 2024

Keywords

  • Fibrosis
  • Heart Failure
  • Hypertrophy
  • Melanocortin Receptor
  • Melanocyte-stimulating Hormone

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

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