Dynamics and Characterization of Plasma Immunoreactive β-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone in Hemodialysis Patients: Its Relationship to ACTH

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Abstract
The plasma immunoreactive .beta.-MSH [melanocyte-stimulating hormone] was studied in hemodialysis patients to determine its basal level, plasma disappearance rate, gel filtration and immunological characteristics. All patients had increased plasma .beta.-MSH (90-440 pg/ml; normal < 90 pg/ml). Plasma ACTH and cortisol values were within the normal range. Cortisol infusion over 2 h induced almost no plasma .beta.-MSH variation as compared to controls where .beta.-MSH decreased rapidly (apparent half-life 90 min); more prolonged administration of corticosteroids (dexamethasone 0.5 mg every 6 h for 2 days) caused a slight (20%) but significant (P < 0.001) decrease of .beta.-MSH. On Sephadex G-50 endogenous .beta.-MSH eluted in a molecular weight range of 6000-10,000. In the radioimmunoassay dilution curves of endogenous .beta.-MSH paralleled that of synthetic human .beta.-MSH, but not that of purifiedhuman .beta.-LPH [lipotropin]. Hemodialysis patients show a clear dissociation between elevated .beta.-MSH and normal ACTH plasma levels. .beta.-MSH probably has a decreased plasma disappearance rate and seems related to a substance different from human .beta.-MSH.

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