Laboratory of Neurochemistry & Behaviour, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Department of Biomedical Sciences Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
Curr Alzheimer Res. 2013 Jun;10(5):449-68. doi: 10.2174/1567205011310050001.
Neuropeptides are found throughout the entire nervous system where they can act as neurotransmitter, neuromodulator or neurohormone. In those functions, they play important roles in the regulation of cognition and behavior. In brain disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD), where abnormal cognition and behavior are observed, the study of neuropeptides is particularly interesting since altered neuropeptides can function as biomarkers or as targets for new medication. In this article neuropeptides with relevance to AD are listed and their influence on cognitive and behavioral disturbances is discussed. Findings from human cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue, and AD mouse models are described and related to the pathophysiology and symptomatology of the disease. In the past, clinical trials with neuropeptides have often failed due to insufficient delivery to the brain. Therefore, new strategies to target the brain with peptide drugs are also covered.
神经肽存在于整个神经系统中，可作为神经递质、神经调质或神经激素发挥作用。在这些功能中，它们在认知和行为的调节中发挥着重要作用。在阿尔茨海默病（AD）等大脑疾病中，观察到异常的认知和行为，因此对神经肽的研究特别有趣，因为改变的神经肽可以作为生物标志物或作为新药物的靶点。本文列出了与 AD 相关的神经肽，并讨论了它们对认知和行为障碍的影响。描述了来自人类脑脊液和脑组织的 AD 小鼠模型的发现，并将其与疾病的病理生理学和症状学联系起来。过去，由于神经肽向大脑的输送不足，临床研究往往以失败告终。因此，本文还涵盖了用肽类药物靶向大脑的新策略。
