The Orexin System, also known as the Hypocretin System, is a critical neuropeptide signaling pathway originating from a small cluster of neurons in the lateral hypothalamus of the brain. This system is fundamentally responsible for regulating and stabilizing the state of wakefulness, energy balance, and appetite, integrating signals related to circadian rhythm and metabolic status. Orexin peptides, Orexin A and Orexin B, are excitatory neurotransmitters whose deficiency is strongly linked to the neurological disorder narcolepsy, characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness. The system plays a key, interconnected role in the neuroendocrine control of energy homeostasis and alertness.
Origin
The Orexin System was discovered simultaneously in 1998 by two independent research groups, who named the peptides orexins from the Greek word orexis, meaning “appetite,” and hypocretins due to their production in the hypothalamus and sequence homology to secretin. The rapid subsequent discovery of its role in sleep-wake cycles established it as a primary target for novel therapeutic agents.
Mechanism
Orexin neurons project widely throughout the central nervous system, releasing Orexin A and B, which bind to two G-protein coupled receptors, Orexin Receptor 1 (OX1R) and Orexin Receptor 2 (OX2R). Activation of these receptors promotes wakefulness by stimulating monoaminergic and cholinergic nuclei, thereby stabilizing the switch between sleep and wake states. The system also interacts with hormonal signals, such as leptin and ghrelin, to link energy expenditure and feeding behavior to the maintenance of alertness.
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