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Corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonists

Choremeion Research Laboratory, First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, Athens 11527, Greece and ¹ Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Division of Clinical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK

(Correspondence should be addressed to G P Chrousos; Email: chrousog{at}med.uoa.gr)

Abstract

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), CRH-related peptides, and CRH receptors play major roles in coordinating the behavioral, endocrine, autonomic, and immune responses to stress. The wide influence of the CRH system on physiological processes in both brain and periphery implicates the respective peptides in the pathophysiology of numerous disorders characterized by dysregulated stress responses. The potential use of CRH antagonists is presently under intense investigation. Selective antagonists have been used experimentally to elucidate the role of CRH-related peptides in disease processes, such as anxiety and depression, sleep disorders, addictive behavior, inflammatory disorders, acute and chronic neurodegeneration, and preterm labor.