Description
Neurotensin is a tridecapeptide that exhibits antinociceptive, pro-inflammatory, and gastrointestinal motility modulating activities. Neurotensin induces contractions in smooth muscle cells, playing a role in regulating digestive activity in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, neurotensin induces intracellular Ca2+ release, activating non-selective cation channels and altering pacemaker currents involved in gastrointestinal and colonic motility. In animal models, neurotensin displays sympatho-inhibitory activity, decreases blood pressure and heart rate. Neurotensin exerts its actions through activation of neurotensin receptors; activation of these receptors also stimulates orexin neurons, suggesting a role for neurotensin in mediation of reward, feeding, and wakefulness.
References
Kleczkowska P, Lipkowski AW. Neurotensin and neurotensin receptors: characteristic, structure-activity relationship and pain modulation--a review. Eur J Pharmacol. 2013 Sep 15;716(1-3):54-60. PMID: 23500196.
Degolier TF, Brown DR, Duke GE, et al. Neurotensin and cholecystokinin contract gallbladder circular muscle in chickens. Poult Sci. 2013 Aug;92(8):2156-62. PMID: 23873564.
Furutani N, Hondo M, Kageyama H, et al. Neurotensin co-expressed in orexin-producing neurons in the lateral hypothalamus plays an important role in regulation of sleep/wakefulness states. PLoS One. 2013 Apr 19;8(4):e62391. PMID: 23620827.
Lee J, Kim YD, Park CG, et al. Neurotensin modulates pacemaker activity in interstitial cells of Cajal from the mouse small intestine. Mol Cells. 2012 May;33(5):509-16. PMID: 22441675.
Zogovic B, Pilowsky PM. Intrathecal neurotensin is hypotensive, sympathoinhibitory and enhances the baroreflex in anaesthetized rat. Br J Pharmacol. 2012 May;166(1):378-89. PMID: 22035146.
Law IK, Murphy JE, Bakirtzi K, et al. Neurotensin-induced proinflammatory signaling in human colonocytes is regulated by β-arrestins and endothelin-converting enzyme-1-dependent endocytosis and resensitization of neurotensin receptor 1. J Biol Chem. 2012 Apr 27;287(18):15066-75. PMID: 22416137.
