Fig. 5.

MECO-1 and α-MSH as anti-HMGB1 corticotropic peptides. Figure used with permission from authors (Qiang et al. 2017). Melanocortin-like peptide of E. coli-1 (MECO-1) has anti-inflammatory effects similar to α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), two prominent mammalian melanocortin hormones. HMGB1, the proposed major inflammatory mediator of the post-sepsis syndrome, remained elevated in septic mice treated with saline alone. MECO-1 and α-MSH were equally effective in attenuating the release of HMGB1 from macrophage-like cells in septic mice. The model for sepsis used was cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)