The NPB/NPW neuropeptide system and its role in regulating energy homeostasis, pain, and emotion.
Neuropeptide B (NPB) and neuropeptide W (NPW) are neuropeptides that were recently identified as endogenous ligands for the previously orphan G-protein coupled receptors, GPR7 (NPBWR1) and GPR8 (NPBWR2). This neuropeptide system is thought to have a role in regulating feeding behavior, energy homeostasis, neuroendocrine function, and modulating inflammatory pain. Strong and discrete expression of their receptors in the extended amygdala suggests a potential role in regulating stress responses, emotion, anxiety and fear; however, there have been no functional studies to date to support this possibility. Future studies of NPB/NPW using both pharmacological and phenotypic analysis of genetically engineered mice will lead to further elucidation of the physiological role of this novel neuropeptide system.
Hondo
Mari
M
Department of Molecular Neuroscience and Integrative Physiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
Ishii
Makoto
M
Sakurai
Takeshi
T
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006706:Homeostasis; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D008024:Ligands; D009479:Neuropeptides; C495188:neuropeptide B; C508547:neuropeptide W, mouse