title: Neurokinin B administration induces hot flushes in women.
abstract: Neurokinin B (NKB) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide binding preferentially to the neurokinin 3 receptor. Expression of the gene encoding NKB is elevated in postmenopausal women. Furthermore, rodent studies suggest that NKB signalling may mediate menopausal hot flushes. However, the effects of NKB administration on hot flushes have not been investigated in humans. To address this, we performed a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, 2-way cross-over study. Ten healthy women were admitted to a temperature and humidity-controlled research unit. Participants received 30 minute intravenous infusions of NKB and vehicle in random order. Symptoms, heart rate, blood pressure, sweating and skin temperature were compared between NKB and vehicle in a double-blinded manner. Eight of ten participants experienced flushing during NKB infusion with none experiencing flushing during vehicle infusion (P = 0.0007). Significant elevations in heart rate (P = 0.0106 vs. pre-symptoms), and skin temperature measured using skin probe (P = 0.0258 vs. pre-symptoms) and thermal imaging (P = 0.0491 vs. pre-symptoms) characteristic of menopausal flushing were observed during hot flush episodes. Our findings provide evidence that NKB administration can cause hot flushes in women. Further studies are required to determine if pharmacological blockade of NKB signalling could inhibit hot flushes during the menopause and during treatment for sex-steroid dependent cancers.
authors: Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Channa N
authors: CN
authors: Jayasena
authors: Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Alexander N
authors: AN
authors: Comninos
authors: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Evgenia
authors: E
authors: Stefanopoulou
authors: Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Buckley
authors: Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Shakunthala
authors: S
authors: Narayanaswamy
authors: Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Chioma
authors: C
authors: Izzi-Engbeaya
authors: Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Abbara
authors: Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Risheka
authors: R
authors: Ratnasabapathy
authors: Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Julianne
authors: J
authors: Mogford
authors: Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Noel
authors: N
authors: Ng
authors: Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Zubair
authors: Z
authors: Sarang
authors: Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Mohammad A
authors: MA
authors: Ghatei
authors: Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Stephen R
authors: SR
authors: Bloom
authors: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Myra S
authors: MS
authors: Hunter
authors: Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Waljit S
authors: WS
authors: Dhillo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D019584:Hot Flashes; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008593:Menopause; D015287:Neurokinin B / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015990:Placebo Effect; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol; D015287:Neurokinin B; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone