CURRENT PROTEIN & PEPTIDE SCIENCE, cilt.3, sa.6, ss.623-628, 2002 (SCI-Expanded)
Inflammation, a localized response to tissue injury, and disorders characterized by inflammation are difficult problems in clinical medicine. This difficulty stems in large part from incomplete understanding of inflammatory processes and their regulation. Recent development of knowledge of the role of central nervous system and neuroendocrine system in host responses has provided a new view of the capacity of neuronal and soluble mediators in these systems to influence inflammation. One of these mediators is the endogenous neuropeptide alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), which is an N-acetyl tridecapeptide derived from the cleavage of a larger precursor molecule, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC).