Physiological Role of Orexinergic System for Health

Ines Villano, Marco La Marra, Girolamo Di Maio, Vincenzo Monda, Sergio Chieffi, Ezia Guatteo, Giovanni Messina, Fiorenzo Moscatelli, Marcellino Monda and Antonietta Messina
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Ines Villano: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Marco La Marra: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Girolamo Di Maio: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Vincenzo Monda: Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Sergio Chieffi: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Ezia Guatteo: Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Giovanni Messina: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71100 Foggia, Italy
Fiorenzo Moscatelli: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71100 Foggia, Italy
Marcellino Monda: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Antonietta Messina: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-18

Abstract: Orexins, or hypocretins, are excitatory neuropeptides involved in the regulation of feeding behavior and the sleep and wakefulness states. Since their discovery, several lines of evidence have highlighted that orexin neurons regulate a great range of physiological functions, giving it the definition of a multitasking system. In the present review, we firstly describe the mechanisms underlining the orexin system and their interactions with the central nervous system (CNS). Then, the system’s involvement in goal-directed behaviors, sleep/wakefulness state regulation, feeding behavior and energy homeostasis, reward system, and aging and neurodegenerative diseases are described. Advanced evidence suggests that the orexin system is crucial for regulating many physiological functions and could represent a promising target for therapeutical approaches to obesity, drug addiction, and emotional stress.

Keywords: orexin/hypocretin; physical activity; obesity; metabolism; neuroprotection; wakefulness; feeding behaviors; energy expenditure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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