Many faces of orexin/hypocretin.
Orexin/hypocretin (ORX/Hcrt) is a neuropeptide discovered in 1998 that is produced by a small group of neurons exclusively localized to the hypothalamus with extensive CNS wide projections. These neurons appear to regulate a wide range of homeostatic functions. Much innovative research has emerged in this field over the past decade, and several novel drug candidates targeting the ORX/Hcrt receptors are being pursued for a variety of disease states. This introduction is a brief overview of the outstanding research reports by leading experts in the field presented in this collection specifically compiled to provide comprehensive, most current reviews of the many functions of the ORX/Hcrt system.
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA. ashekhar@iupui.edu
Anantha
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Shekhar
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000502:physiology*; D000068797:Orexins
D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000068797:Orexins