The corticotropin-releasing factor system in inflammatory bowel disease: prospects for new therapeutic approaches

Drug Discov Today. 2009 Jul;14(13-14):713-20. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2009.04.002. Epub 2009 Apr 18.

Abstract

Mounting evidence suggests that stress is implicated in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), via initial nervous disturbance and subsequent immune dysfunction through brain-gut interactions. The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system, being the principal neuroendocrine coordinator of stress responses, is involved in the inflammatory process within the gastrointestinal tract, via vagal and peripheral pathways, as implied by multiple reports reviewed here. Blocking of CRF receptors could theoretically exert beneficial anti-inflammatory effects in colonic tissues. The recently synthesised small-molecule CRF(1) antagonists or alternatively non-peptide CRF(2) antagonists when available, may become new reliable options in the treatment of IBD.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / metabolism*
  • Neural Pathways / drug effects
  • Neural Pathways / physiology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / metabolism
  • Stress, Physiological / drug effects
  • Stress, Physiological / physiology
  • Vagus Nerve / drug effects
  • Vagus Nerve / physiology

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone