title: Appetite- and volume-regulating neuropeptides: Role in treating alcohol dependence.
abstract: Recent studies have demonstrated a role for appetite- and volume-regulating neuropeptides in alcohol dependence, particularly in association with alcohol craving. The peptides leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin, vasopressin and the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) have been of particular interest because of their central effects on various brain circuits, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. In addition, pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) plays an important role in linking appetite regulation with the HPA axis. Recent research has also demonstrated that the expression of these peptides in alcohol dependence is, at least partially, regulated by genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. These peptides and their associated circuits provide an intriguing new field for future pharmacological approaches for treating depression, anxiety and, potentially, addictive disorders such as alcohol dependence.
authors.affiliation: Center for Addiction Research, Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover, Germany. hillemacher.thomas@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hillemacher
authors.forename: Kai G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Kahl
authors.forename: Annemarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heberlein
authors.forename: Marc An
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Muschler
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eberlein
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frieling
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bleich
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite; D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides