Nociceptin

Nociceptin

Names
Other names Orphanin FQ
Identifiers
CAS Number	170713-75-4 Y
ChEBI	CHEBI:80266 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL396460 Y
IUPHAR/BPS	1681
MeSH	nociceptin
PubChem	16131448
Properties
Chemical formula	C79H129N27O22
Molar mass	1809.04
Vapor pressure	{{{value}}}
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

prepronociceptin
Identifiers
Symbol	PNOC
Entrez	5368
HUGO	9163
OMIM	601459
RefSeq	NM_006228
UniProt	Q13519
Other data
Locus	Chr. 8 p21

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ), a 17-amino acid neuropeptide, is the endogenous ligand for the nociceptin receptor (NOP, ORL-1). It is derived from the prepronociceptin protein, as are a further 2 peptides, nocistatin & NocII. The gene coding for prepronociceptin is located on Ch8p21 in humans.

Nociceptin acts at the Nociceptin receptor (NOP receptor) formerly known as ORL1. Nociceptin is the first example of reverse pharmacology; the NOP receptor was discovered before the endogenous ligand which was discovered by two separate groups in 1995. Nociceptin is an opioid-related peptide, but it does not act at the classic opioid receptors (namely, mu, kappa, and delta opioid receptors), and its actions are not antagonized by the opioid antagonist naloxone. Nociceptin is a potent anti-analgesic. Nociceptin is widely distributed in the CNS; it is found in many regions of the hypothalamus, brainstem, and forebrain, as well as in the ventral horn and dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The NOP receptor is also widely distributed in the brain, including in the cortex, anterior olfactory nucleus, lateral septum, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, central gray, pontine nuclei, interpeduncular nucleus, substantia nigra, raphe complex, locus coeruleus, and spinal cord.

Roles of Nociceptin

Since its discovery, nociceptin has been of great interest to researchers. It is found extensively across the body and there is potential for future medicines to target the system.

Pain

The effects of nociceptin on pain have been widely described and the N/OFQ-NOP system is found in central and peripheral nervous tissue, where it is well placed to modulate nociception. Unlike morphine and other opioids that are used to alleviate pain, nociceptin's role in nociception are not straight forward. Administration of N/OFQ in the brain causes increased sensations of pain (hyperalgesia). There is substantial evidence to suggest that nociceptin is involved in opioid-induced hyperalgesia When administered to the spinal cord, nociceptin produces similar effects to classical opioids.

Mood Disorders

There are various studies on animals that suggest that the N/OFQ-NOP system has a part to play in both anxiety and depression. It appears that nociceptin is an anxiolytic but also seems to perpetuate depression as preventing N/OFQ from binding to NOP seems to improve depression.

Other Roles

The N/OFQ-NOP system has also been implicated in control of the cardiovascular and renal systems and there is evidence to suggest nociceptin may be involved in the immune system and sepsis. A study at the University of Leicester looked at patients critically ill with sepsis and found that blood N/OFQ levels were significantly higher in patients who died within thirty days than survivors.

External links

• nociceptin at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
• prepronociceptin at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)