Corticotropin Releasing Hormone Binding Protein (CRHBP)

Corticotropin-releasing factor-binding protein is a protein encoded by the CRHBP gene.Corticotropin-releasing hormone is a potent stimulator of synthesis and secretion of preopiomelanocortin-derived peptides. Although CRH concentrations in the human peripheral circulation are normally low, they increase throughout pregnancy and fall rapidly after parturition.Potter et al. (1991) isolated and partially purified the binding protein and cloned and characterized its cDNA from human liver and rat brain. Expression of the cDNAs in COS-7 cells showed that the protein binds CRH with the same affinity as the native protein. Furthermore, the recombinant binding protein inhibited CRH binding to a CRH antibody and inhibited CRH-induced release of ACTH by pituitary cells in vitro.