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The renaissance of corticotropin therapy in proteinuric nephropathies

Nature Reviews Nephrology volume 8, pages 122–128 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Refractory nephrotic syndrome continues to be a therapeutic challenge despite advances in immunosuppression and blockade of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone cascade. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), a pituitary neuroimmunoendocrine polypeptide, was widely used in the 1950s as an effective therapy for childhood nephrotic syndrome, but has since been replaced by synthetic glucocorticoid analogues. In addition to controlling steroidogenesis, ACTH also acts as an important physiological agonist of the melanocortin system. Clinical and experimental evidence now suggests that ACTH has antiproteinuric, lipid-lowering and renoprotective properties, which are not fully explained by its steroidogenic effects. ACTH therapy is effective in inducing remission of nephrotic syndrome in patients with a variety of proteinuric nephropathies, even those resistant to steroids and other immunosuppressants. This Perspectives article describes the biophysiology of ACTH, with an emphasis on its melanocortin actions, particularly in renal parenchymal cells, which could potentially explain the therapeutic effects of ACTH in nephrotic glomerulopathies.

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Figure 1: Biosynthesis of ACTH and its regulation by the HPA axis.
Figure 2: Expression of melanocortin receptors in podocytes.
Figure 3: Potential mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of ACTH in proteinuric nephropathies.

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Acknowledgements

Research work by R. Gong has been supported by research grants from Questcor, Foundation for Health, and NIH Grant R01DK092485.

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  1. Division of Kidney Disease and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, 02903, RI, USA

    Rujun Gong

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R. Gong declares that he has received research grants from Questcor.

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Gong, R. The renaissance of corticotropin therapy in proteinuric nephropathies. Nat Rev Nephrol 8, 122–128 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2011.190

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