Corticotropin-releasing factor binding protein (CRF-BP)

Corticotropin-releasing factor binding protein (CRF-BP) is a highly conserved, secreted glycoprotein present in plasma and specific brain regions. It binds corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and related peptides with high affinity, sequestering them and preventing activation of CRF receptors (CRF1R and CRF2R), thus dampening the stress response mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis[1][8]. The protein consists of 322 amino acid residues and can undergo proteolytic cleavage in the brain, thus generating fragments with distinct functional attributes[1]. Although primarily inhibitory to CRF function (by removal of “free” CRF), CRF-BP may facilitate CRF signaling through interactions with CRF receptor 2, possibly acting as a receptor escort protein in some contexts[1]. CRF-BP is implicated in the regulation of the physiological stress response and is associated with the pathophysiology of anxiety, depression, addiction, and potentially other neuropsychiatric and neuroendocrine diseases[1][8][9]. No approved drugs directly target CRF-BP, but it represents a promising target for interventions to modulate the stress axis[1].

Other names

Corticotropin-releasing hormone binding proteinCRFBPCRH-BP

Sequestration/inactivation of CRF (and related peptides), thereby indirectly modulating CRF receptor activity and downstream stress-response signaling Allosteric modulation of CRF receptor signaling under certain conditions