Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

A RAPID Method for Blood Processing to Increase the Yield of Plasma Peptide Levels in Human Blood
11:36

A RAPID Method for Blood Processing to Increase the Yield of Plasma Peptide Levels in Human Blood

Published on: April 28, 2016

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide receptor as a therapeutic target for obesity

Magdalena J Przydzial1, Lora K Heisler

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Tennis Court Road, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1PD UK.

Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry
|August 5, 2008
PubMed

Insights

The nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide (NOP) receptor shows promise for treating obesity. Research is advancing the design of NOP receptor antagonists to regulate food intake.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • The nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide acts through the NOP receptor.
  • The NOP receptor system is implicated in regulating physiological processes, including appetite.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on the role of N/OFQ in food intake regulation.
  • To assess the progress in developing NOP receptor antagonists for therapeutic applications.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of preclinical and clinical studies.
  • Analysis of drug design strategies targeting the NOP receptor.

Main Results:

  • N/OFQ signaling influences appetite control.
  • Several classes of NOP receptor antagonists are under investigation.
  • Rational drug design is yielding promising compounds.

Conclusions:

  • The NOP receptor is a viable therapeutic target for obesity and other conditions.
  • Further development of NOP receptor antagonists could lead to novel treatments for appetite dysregulation.

More Related Videos

Fat Preference: A Novel Model of Eating Behavior in Rats05:57

Fat Preference: A Novel Model of Eating Behavior in Rats

Published on: June 27, 2014

Hypothalamic Kisspeptin Neurons as a Target for Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Recordings09:39

Hypothalamic Kisspeptin Neurons as a Target for Whole-Cell Patch-Clamp Recordings

Published on: March 17, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Food Intake01:30

Regulation of Food Intake

Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway02:26

NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway

The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists01:28

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists

Neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptors are distributed across the GI tract, vagal afferents, and key CNS regions including the central vomiting center and chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) Chemotherapy agents stimulate enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to release large amounts of substance P (SP). SP is a neuropeptide released by specific sensory nerves in response to many different stressors, including those in the GI mucosa affected by chemotherapy.  SP binds and activates these...
Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists01:24

Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists

Incretins include glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which stimulate insulin secretion post-meals. In type 2 diabetes, GIP's efficacy is reduced, making GLP-1 a viable drug target. GIP originates from preproGIP.
GLP-1, when administered in high doses intravenously, triggers insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, reduces food intake, and restores normal insulin secretion. However, its rapid inactivation by the...
Nociception01:44

Nociception

Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain. Thus, pain helps the...
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...