A new study identified a "trigger" for stress in the brain, a finding that could lead to new therapies.
The protein, dubbed secretagogin, plays a key role in the release of the stress hormone CRH. The protein allows stress processes in the brain to be transmitted to the pituitary gland and other organs, a press release reported.
"If, however, the presence of secretagogin, a calcium-binding protein, is suppressed, then CRH (= Corticotropin Releasing Hormone) might not be released in the hypothalamus of the brain thus preventing the triggering of hormonal responses to stress in the body," said Tibor Harkany of the Department of Molecular Neurosciences at the MedUni Vienna.
The hypothalamus requires CRH to trigger the release of the hormone ACTH from pituitary gland cells into the blood stream. Once ACTH reaches the adrenal cortex it stimulates the release of CRH, creating the signal for cortisol release; if this process is interrupted a stress response occurs.
"Now we have a better understanding of how stress is generated," said Tomas Hökfelt of the Karolinska Institutet and guest professor at the MedUni Vienna.
The finding could lead to secretagogin-based treatments for stress in cases of mental disorders such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and chronic stress caused by pain.
Stress can lead to an increase in infections, chronic headaches, tinnitus, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, among other ailments. In Europe over 50 percent of sick leaves are a result of stress, costing the region billions of dollars.
"Illnesses resulting from stress steadily increase in frequency and place a burden on the health care system. The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has therefore dedicated 2014 to the subject of stress," the researchers stated.
The findings were published in a recent edition of the EMBO Journal.
