title: Neuropeptide W: a key player in the homeostatic regulation of feeding and energy metabolism?
abstract: Neuropeptide W (NPW), recently isolated from porcine hypothalamus, has been identified as the endogenous ligand for both NPBWR1 (GPR7) and NPBWR2 (GPR8), which belong to the orphan G protein-coupled receptor family. NPW is thought to play an important role in the regulation of feeding and drinking behavior, and to be related to the stress response. NPW-containing neurons are localized in several regions of the brain, including the hypothalamus, hippocampus, limbic system, midbrain, and brain stem. Accumulated evidence suggests that hypothalamic neuropeptides, such as neuropeptide Y (NPY), orexin, melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), and proopiomelanocortin (POMC), are involved in the regulation of feeding behavior and energy homeostasis via neuronal circuits in the hypothalamus. NPW also forms part of the feeding-regulating neuronal circuitry in conjunction with other feeding-regulating peptide-containing neurons within the hypothalamus. We summarize our current understanding of the distribution of NPW and of the neuronal interactions between NPW and the different feeding-regulating peptide-containing neurons. This review also discusses evidence for the dichotomous actions of NPW on energy balance and the potential mechanisms involved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Takenoya
authors.forename: Haruaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kageyama
authors.forename: Kanako
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shiba
authors.forename: Yukari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Date
authors.forename: Masamitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shioda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; C496874:neuropeptide W, rat