The regulation of human corticotrophin-releasing hormone gene expression in the placenta.
Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a 41 amino acid neuropeptide that is expressed in the hypothalamus and the human placenta. Placental CRH production has been linked to the determination of gestational length in the human. Although encoded by a single copy gene, CRH expression in the placenta is regulated differently to the hypothalamus. Glucocorticoids stimulate CRH promoter activity in the placenta but inhibit it's activity in the hypothalamus, via mechanisms involving different regions of the CRH promoter. We discuss how various stimuli alter CRH promoter activity and why these responses are unique to the placenta.
King
B R
BR
Mothers and Babies Research Centre, University of Newcastle, 2305, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Smith
R
R
Nicholson
R C
RC
D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D010929:Placentation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000378:metabolism
D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP