Local Expression of Corticotropin‐Releasing Hormone in Inflammatory Arthritis

Inflammation normally results in enhanced synthesis and secretion of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) which, in turn, exerts antiinflammatory effects by virtue of increased adrenal glucocorticoid production.CRH and CRH binding sites are also expressed in the peripheral nervous and immune systems.In the periphery, CRH has pleiotropic effects on immune/inflammatory systems.We demonstrated CRH expression in the joints of Lewis rats with experimental arthritis and in synovial tissues of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.These data support an autocrine/paracrine immunomodulatory role for CRH.