Unit on Neuromodulation and Synaptic Integration, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
Front Neural Circuits. 2022 Jun 21;16:796443. doi: 10.3389/fncir.2022.796443. eCollection 2022.
Neuropeptides, a diverse class of signaling molecules in the nervous system, modulate various biological effects including membrane excitability, synaptic transmission and synaptogenesis, gene expression, and glial cell architecture and function. To date, most of what is known about neuropeptide action is limited to subcortical brain structures and tissue outside of the central nervous system. Thus, there is a knowledge gap in our understanding of neuropeptide function within cortical circuits. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of various families of neuropeptides and their cognate receptors that are expressed in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Specifically, we highlight dynorphin, enkephalin, corticotropin-releasing factor, cholecystokinin, somatostatin, neuropeptide Y, and vasoactive intestinal peptide. Further, we review the implication of neuropeptide signaling in prefrontal cortical circuit function and use as potential therapeutic targets. Together, this review summarizes established knowledge and highlights unknowns of neuropeptide modulation of neural function underlying various biological effects while offering insights for future research. An increased emphasis in this area of study is necessary to elucidate basic principles of the diverse signaling molecules used in cortical circuits beyond fast excitatory and inhibitory transmitters as well as consider components of neuropeptide action in the PFC as a potential therapeutic target for neurological disorders. Therefore, this review not only sheds light on the importance of cortical neuropeptide studies, but also provides a comprehensive overview of neuropeptide action in the PFC to serve as a roadmap for future studies in this field.
神经肽是神经系统中一类多样化的信号分子，调节多种生物学效应，包括膜兴奋性、突触传递和突触发生、基因表达以及神经胶质细胞结构和功能。迄今为止，我们对神经肽作用的了解大多局限于皮质下脑结构和中枢神经系统以外的组织。因此，我们对皮质回路中神经肽功能的理解存在知识空白。在这篇综述中，我们全面概述了在前额叶皮层（PFC）中表达的各种神经肽家族及其相应的受体。具体来说，我们强调了强啡肽、脑啡肽、促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子、胆囊收缩素、生长抑素、神经肽 Y 和血管活性肠肽。此外，我们还回顾了神经肽信号在 PFC 电路功能中的作用及其作为潜在治疗靶点的意义。总之，该综述总结了神经肽调节各种生物学效应下的神经功能的已有知识，并强调了未知领域，为未来的研究提供了思路。有必要在这一研究领域增加重视，以阐明皮质回路中除快速兴奋和抑制性递质以外的多样化信号分子的基本原理，并考虑 PFC 中神经肽作用的组成部分作为神经紊乱的潜在治疗靶点。因此，本综述不仅阐明了皮质神经肽研究的重要性，而且全面概述了 PFC 中神经肽的作用，为该领域的未来研究提供了路线图。
