title: Orexin and leptin are associated with nicotine craving: a link between smoking, appetite and reward.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preclinical data suggest modulating effects of both orexin/hypocretin and leptin on dopaminergic transmission in mesolimbic reward pathways. This indicates a possible role of both peptides in reward function and motivation, and thus in addictive diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the possible association between orexin and leptin, and nicotine craving in smokers in a clinical case-control study under standardized conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared orexin and leptin, ACTH and cortisol plasma concentrations (RIA) between tobacco smokers (n=60) during early nicotine withdrawal and healthy controls (n=64). Motivational aspects of nicotine craving were additionally assessed in the smoking participants using the Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (QSU).
  
  
  RESULTS
  As main results we detected a significant negative correlation between orexin plasma concentration and nicotine craving (r=-0.28; p<.05), and a positive association between craving and leptin plasma concentration (r=0.29; p<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show an association between craving for nicotine and plasma concentrations of orexin and leptin suggesting that both peptides interfere with the dopaminergic transmission during nicotine withdrawal in a bidirectional manner and, thus, modulate craving for nicotine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Addictive Behaviour and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Square J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany. christoph.goltz@zi-mannheim.de
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von der Goltz
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koopmann
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dinter
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rockenbach
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grosshans
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakovics
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wiedemann
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Winterer
authors.forename: Falk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kiefer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001066:Appetite / Q000502:physiology; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000097:blood*; D009538:Nicotine; D000068797:Orexins; D012201:Reward; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020738:Leptin; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000068797:Orexins; D009538:Nicotine