Metabolic Changes Induced by Purinergic Signaling: Role in Food Intake

Vanni Caruso; Mariachiara Zuccarini; Patrizia Di Iorio; Ishaq Muhammad; Maurizio Ronci

doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.655989

Metabolic Changes Induced by Purinergic Signaling: Role in Food Intake

Front Pharmacol. 2021 Apr 29:12:655989. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.655989. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Vanni Caruso^{1

2}, Mariachiara Zuccarini^{3

4}, Patrizia Di Iorio^{3

4}, Ishaq Muhammad¹, Maurizio Ronci^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
² Institute for Research on Pain, ISAL-Foundation, Rimini, Italy.
³ Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
⁴ Center for Advanced Studies and Technologies (CAST), University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
⁵ Department of Pharmacy, University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.

Abstract

The purinergic signalling has a well-established role in the regulation of energy homeostasis, but there is growing evidence of its implication in the control of food intake. In this review, we provide an integrative view of the molecular mechanisms leading to changes in feeding behaviour within hypothalamic neurons following purinergic receptor activation. We also highlight the importance of purinergic signalling in metabolic homeostasis and the possibility of targeting its receptors for therapeutic purposes.

Keywords: food intake; metabolic homeostasis; obesity; orexigen and anorexigen neurons; purinergic receptors.

Publication types

Review