title: Neuropeptide Y (NPY) as a therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and NPY receptors are widely expressed in the mammalian central nervous system. Studies in both humans and rodent models revealed that brain NPY levels are altered in some neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and Machado-Joseph disease. In this review, we will focus on the roles of NPY in the pathological mechanisms of these disorders, highlighting NPY as a neuroprotective agent, as a neural stem cell proliferative agent, as an agent that increases trophic support, as a stimulator of autophagy and as an inhibitor of excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation. Moreover, the effect of NPY in some clinical manifestations commonly observed in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and Machado-Joseph disease, such as depressive symptoms and body weight loss, are also discussed. In conclusion, this review highlights NPY system as a potential therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duarte-Neves
authors.affiliation: CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pereira de Almeida
authors.affiliation: CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: ccavadas@uc.pt.
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavadas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017476:Receptors, Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D017476:Receptors, Neuropeptide Y
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Autophagy; Excitotoxicity; Huntington's disease; Machado-Joseph disease; NPY; NPY receptors; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurogenesis; Neuroinflammation; Neuropeptide Y; Neuroprotection; Parkinson's disease; Trophic factors