Banner
Identification
Name Corticotropin
Accession Number DB01285
Type biotech
Groups approved
Description

Corticotropin (ACTH or adrenocorticotropic hormone) is a polypeptide hormone produced and secreted by the pituitary gland. It is an important player in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Protein structure
Protein chemical formula C207H308N56O58S
Protein average weight 4541.0658
Sequences 
>ACTH(1-39)
SYSMEHFRWGKPVGKKRRPVKVYPDGAEDQLAEAFPLEF

FASTA
Synonyms
  • ACTH
  • Adrenocorticotopin
  • Adrenocorticotropic hormone
  • Corticotrophin
  • Cortrophin
Brand names
  • Acethropan
  • Acortan
  • ACTH
  • Acthar
  • Exacthin
  • H.P. Acthar Gel
  • Isactid
  • Purified cortrophin gel
  • Reacthin
  • Solacthyl
  • Tubex
Brand name mixtures Not Available
Categories
  • Diagnostic Agents
CAS number 9002-60-2
Taxonomy
Kingdom Not Available
Classes Not Available
Substructures Not Available
Pharmacology
Indication For use as a diagnostic agent in the screening of patients presumed to have adrenocortical insufficiency.
Pharmacodynamics Corticotropin acts through the stimulation of cell surface ACTH receptors, which are primarily located on the adrenocortical cells. Corticotropin stimulates the cortex of the adrenal gland and boosts the synthesis of corticosteroids, mainly glucocorticoids but also sex steroids (androgens). Corticotropin is also related to the circadian rhythm in many organisms.
Mechanism of action As a diagnostic aid (adrenocortical function), corticotropin combines with a specific receptor on the adrenal cell plasma membrane. In patients with normal adrenocortical function, it stimulates the initial reaction involved in the synthesis of adrenal steroids (including cortisol, cortisone, weak androgenic substances, and a limited quantity of aldosterone) from cholesterol by increasing the quantity of cholesterol within the mitochondria. Corticotropin does not significantly increase serum cortisol concentrations in patients with primary adrenocortical insufficiency (Addison's disease). The mechanism of action of corticotropin in the treatment of infantile myoclonic seizures is unknown.
Absorption Corticotropin is rapidly absorbed following intramuscular administration; the repository dosage form is slowly absorbed over approximately 8 to 16 hours.
Volume of distribution Not Available
Protein binding Not Available
Metabolism
Route of elimination Not Available
Half life About 15 minutes following intravenous administration.
Clearance Not Available
Toxicity Not Available
Affected organisms
  • Humans and other mammals
Pathways Not Available
Pharmacoeconomics
Manufacturers
  • Parkedale pharmaceuticals inc
  • Sanofi aventis us llc
  • Organics lagrange inc
  • Watson laboratories inc
  • Questcor pharmaceuticals inc
  • Organon usa inc
  • Armour pharmaceutical co
Packagers
Dosage forms Not Available
Prices
Unit description Cost Unit
Acthar hp gel 80 unit/ml vial 5584.56 USD ml
Patents Not Available
Properties
State solid
Melting point Not Available
Experimental Properties
Property Value Source
water solubility Easily soluble in cold water, hot water. PhysProp
References
Synthesis Reference Not Available
General Reference Not Available
External Links
Resource Link
PharmGKB PA449129 Link_out
Drug Product Database 0 Link_out
Drugs.com http://www.drugs.com/cdi/corticotropin-gel.html Link_out
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrenocorticotropic_hormone Link_out
ATC Codes
  • H01AA01
AHFS Codes Not Available
PDB Entries Not Available
FDA label Not Available
MSDS show (72.7 KB)
Interactions
Drug Interactions Not Available
Food Interactions Not Available
Targets

1. Adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor

Pharmacological action: yes
Actions: agonist

Receptor for ACTH. This receptor is mediated by G proteins (G(s)) which activate adenylate cyclase

Organism class: human
UniProt ID: Q01718 Link_out
Gene: MC2R Link_out
Protein Sequence: FASTA
Gene Sequence: FASTA
SNPs: SNPJam Report Link_out

References:
  1. Johnston H, King PJ, O’Shaughnessy PJ: Effects of ACTH and expression of the melanocortin-2 receptor in the neonatal mouse testis. Reproduction. 2007 Jun;133(6):1181-7. Pubmed
  2. Carey LC, Su Y, Valego NK, Rose JC: Infusion of ACTH stimulates expression of adrenal ACTH receptor and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein mRNA in fetal sheep. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2006 Aug;291(2):E214-20. Epub 2006 Feb 14. Pubmed
  3. Hruby VJ, Cai M, Cain JP, Mayorov AV, Dedek MM, Trivedi D: Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of ligands selective for the melanocortin-3 receptor. Curr Top Med Chem. 2007;7(11):1107-19. Pubmed
  4. Suri D, Alonso M, Weiss RE: A case of ACTH-independent bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia and severe congestive heart failure. J Endocrinol Invest. 2006 Nov;29(10):940-6. Pubmed
  5. Lin L, Hindmarsh PC, Metherell LA, Alzyoud M, Al-Ali M, Brain CE, Clark AJ, Dattani MT, Achermann JC: Severe loss-of-function mutations in the adrenocorticotropin receptor (ACTHR, MC2R) can be found in patients diagnosed with salt-losing adrenal hypoplasia. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2007 Feb;66(2):205-10. Pubmed

2. Corticoliberin

Pharmacological action: unknown
Actions: agonist

This hormone from hypothalamus regulates the release of corticotropin from pituitary gland

Organism class: human
UniProt ID: P06850 Link_out
Gene: CRH Link_out
Protein Sequence: FASTA
Gene Sequence: FASTA
SNPs: SNPJam Report Link_out

References:
  1. Hellman P, Linder F, Hennings J, Hessman O, Eriksson B, Orlefors H, Akerstrom G: Bilateral adrenalectomy for ectopic Cushing’s syndrome-discussions on technique and indication. World J Surg. 2006 May;30(5):909-16. Pubmed
  2. Dinan TG, Quigley EM, Ahmed SM, Scully P, O’Brien S, O’Mahony L, O’Mahony S, Shanahan F, Keeling PW: Hypothalamic-pituitary-gut axis dysregulation in irritable bowel syndrome: plasma cytokines as a potential biomarker? Gastroenterology. 2006 Feb;130(2):304-11. Pubmed
  3. Zhao LF, Iwasaki Y, Oki Y, Tsugita M, Taguchi T, Nishiyama M, Takao T, Kambayashi M, Hashimoto K: Purinergic receptor ligands stimulate pro-opiomelanocortin gene expression in AtT-20 pituitary corticotroph cells. J Neuroendocrinol. 2006 Apr;18(4):273-8. Pubmed
  4. Wagner U, Wahle M, Moritz F, Wagner U, Hantzschel H, Baerwald CG: Promoter polymorphisms regulating corticotrophin-releasing hormone transcription in vitro. Horm Metab Res. 2006 Feb;38(2):69-75. Pubmed
  5. Matejec R, Uhlich H, Hotz C, Muhling J, Harbach HW, Bodeker RH, Hempelmann G, Teschemacher H: Corticotropin-releasing hormone reduces pressure pain sensitivity in humans without involvement of beta-endorphin(1-31), but does not reduce heat pain sensitivity. Neuroendocrinology. 2005;82(3-4):185-97. Epub 2006 Mar 13. Pubmed
Comments
Drug created on May 23, 2007 23:14 / Updated on September 03, 2010 10:47

This project is supported by Genome Alberta & Genome Canada, a not-for-profit organization that is leading Canada's national genomics strategy with $600 million in funding from the federal government. This project is also supported in part by GenomeQuest, Inc., an enterprise genomic information company serving the life science community.