Neuropeptides in Food Intake Regulation

Dear Colleagues,

Obesity is an escalating epidemic, but an effective therapy is still missing. Anorexigenic (food intake lowering) and/or orexigenic (food intake enhancing) neuropeptides produced and acting in the brain are very important in food intake regulation. Several hormones produced by peripheral tissues work together with neuropeptides involved in this process. Anorexigenic hormones such as leptin, glucagon-like peptide-1, and cholecystokinin cooperate with a-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated peptide as well as prolactin-releasing peptide. On the other hand, orexigenic peptides, especially ghrelin released from the stomach and acting in the brain, cooperates with orexins, neuropeptide Y, melanin-concentrating hormone, and galanin. A better understanding of how the metabolism is dysregulated in food intake disorders and metabolic diseases and what role neuropeptides play in this process could lead to the potential development of new drugs targeting metabolic pathways connecting with obesity. Anorexigenic peptides especially have the potential to decrease food intake and ameliorate obesity but are ineffective after peripheral application. Nevertheless, it has been demonstrated that lipidization of neuropeptides has great potential to improve food intake after peripheral application. Therefore, it is important to determine the common mechanisms regulating food intake through these neuropeptides and their analogs.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect original papers and/or reviews dealing with central and peripheral molecular mechanisms underlying effects of neuropeptides. In addition to their physiological functions, special attention should be paid on pharmacological properties of natural neuropeptides and their analogs and the action at their receptors. Important topics of this Special Issue involve also a role of neuropeptides in endocrine regulation, inflammation processes, and neuroprotection, as well as the perspective use of neuropeptides in therapeutics and clinical applications.

Dr. Jaroslav Kuneš
Dr. Lenka Maletinska
Dr. Blanka Železná
Guest Editors

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