Karolinska Institutet-Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden.
Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2011 Nov;15(11):1317-31. doi: 10.1517/14728222.2011.628314.
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a highly conserved neuropeptide belonging to the pancreatic polypeptide family. Its potential role in the etiology and pathophysiology of mood and anxiety disorders has been extensively studied. NPY also has effects on feeding behavior, ethanol intake, sleep regulation, tissue growth and remodeling. Findings from animal studies have delineated the physiological and behavioral effects mediated by specific NPY receptor subtypes, of which Y1 and Y2 are the best understood.
Physiological roles and alterations of the NPYergic system in anxiety disorders, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol dependence and epilepsy. For each disorder, studies in animal models and human investigations are outlined and discussed, focusing on behavior, neurophysiology, genetics and potential for novel treatment targets.
The wide implications of NPY in psychiatric disorders such as depression and PTSD make the NPYergic system a promising target for the development of novel therapeutic interventions. These include intranasal NPY administration, currently under study, and the development of agonists and antagonists targeting NPY receptors. Therefore, we are proposing that via this mode of administration, NPY might exert CNS therapeutic actions without untoward systemic effects. Future work will show if this is a feasible approach.
神经肽 Y（NPY）是一种高度保守的神经肽，属于胰多肽家族。其在心境和焦虑障碍的病因和病理生理学中的潜在作用已得到广泛研究。NPY 还对摄食行为、乙醇摄入、睡眠调节、组织生长和重塑有影响。动物研究的结果描绘了特定 NPY 受体亚型介导的生理和行为效应，其中 Y1 和 Y2 最为人所理解。
焦虑障碍、抑郁症、创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）、酒精依赖和癫痫中 NPY 能系统的生理作用和改变。对于每种疾病，都概述和讨论了动物模型和人类研究，重点关注行为、神经生理学、遗传学和新治疗靶点的潜力。
NPY 在精神疾病（如抑郁症和 PTSD）中的广泛影响使 NPY 能系统成为开发新治疗干预措施的有前途的靶点。这些包括正在研究中的鼻内 NPY 给药，以及针对 NPY 受体的激动剂和拮抗剂的开发。因此，我们提出，通过这种给药方式，NPY 可能会在没有不良全身作用的情况下对中枢神经系统产生治疗作用。未来的工作将表明这是否是一种可行的方法。
