ACTH Antibody / Synacthen

POMC (pro-opiomelanocortin or corticotropin-lipotropin) is a 267 amino acid polypeptide hormone precursor that goes through extensive, tissue-specific post-translational processing by convertases. POMC is cleaved into ten hormone chains named NPP, ACTH, alpha-MSH (Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone), beta-MSH, gamma-MSH, CLIP (corticotropin-like intermediary peptide), Lipotropin-beta, Lipotropin-gamma, beta-endorphin and Met-enkephalin. ACTH (also called Corticotropin) is a 39 amino acid active peptide produced by the anterior pituitary. This antibody is specific to Synacthen (aa 1-24 of ACTH) and does not react with CLIP (aa 17-39 of ACTH) . ACTH is produced by cells of immune system (T-cells, B-cells, and macrophages) in response to stimuli associated with stress. ACTH antibody is a useful marker in classification of pituitary tumors and the study of pituitary disease. It reacts with ACTH-producing cells (corticotrophs) . It also may react with other tumors (e.g. some small cell carcinomas of the lung) causing paraneoplastic syndromes by secreting ACTH.