corticostatin

corticostatin

(kor″tĭ-kō-stă′tĭn) [L. cortex, bark, + status, stance] A peptide that inhibits adrenocorticotropic hormone–stimulated secretion of corticosteroids by the adrenal glands. Rich in arginine and cystine, it is secreted by cells in the lungs, spleen, pituitary, and other organs. It competes with corticotropin for binding sites and appears to mediate the physiological response of the body to sepsis.