Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone System in Human Adipose Tissue

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 89; no. 2; pp. 965 - 970
• Main Authors: Seres, Janette, Bornstein, Stefan R., Seres, Peter, Willenberg, Holger S., Schulte, Klaus M., Scherbaum, Werner A., Ehrhart-Bornstein, Monika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Endocrine Society 01-02-2004; Copyright by The Endocrine Society
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - drug effects; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Adrenal Glands - metabolism; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cells, Cultured; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - pharmacology; Down-Regulation; Endocrinopathies; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Medical sciences; Myocardium - metabolism; Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism; Subcutaneous Tissue; Tissue Distribution; Urocortins; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Viscera; Human; Adipose tissue; Adenohypophyseal hormone; Corticotropin; Endocrinology; Peptide hormone
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.2003-031299

Mounting evidence exists for a role of the CRH system in energy balance, including a direct influence on human adipocytes, the regulation of adipose 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 activity, and cortisol formation. We characterized the expression of CRH receptors 1 and 2 and CRH-like peptides stresscopin and urocortin in human adipose tissue in comparison with other peripheral tissues, adrenal, and heart. The effect of CRH on CRH receptor and CRH-like peptide expression was analyzed in isolated human adipocytes using quantitative TaqMan PCR. CRH receptors were detectable in fat tissue at mRNA and protein levels. CRH-R2 expression in fat was comparable with its expression in the heart, the organ with the highest CRH-R2 expression known. CRH-R1:CRH-R2 ratio varied according to fat-depot type; whereas CRH-R1 expression was higher in sc fat than in visceral fat, the opposite was true for CRH-R2. Adipose tissue also expressed urocortin and stresscopin, the predominant ligands of peripheral CRH-R2. CRH down-regulated CRH-R1 and CRH-R2 mRNA expression in isolated adipocytes. These data, together with the recently published observation that CRH regulates adipocyte metabolism by down-regulating 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, indicate that a CRH system exists within human adipose tissue. This system could be implicated in energy homeostasis and in mediating the anorexic effects of CRH at adipose level.