Orexins (hypocretins) and energy balance: More than feeding

摘要: Initially implicated in the regulation of feeding, orexins/hypocretins are now acknowledged to play a major role control wide variety biological processes, such as sleep, energy expenditure, pain, cardiovascular function and neuroendocrine regulation, feature that makes them one most pleiotropic families hypothalamic neuropeptides. While orexigenic effect orexins is well described, their central effects on expenditure particularly brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis not totally unraveled. Better understanding these actions possible interrelationship with other systems controlling thermogenesis, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, will help clarify exact pathophysiological relevance neuropeptides have balance.