NPFF
Description
The NPFF (neuropeptide FF-amide peptide precursor) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 12.
NPFF, or Neuropeptide FF (FLFQPQRFa), is a mammalian amidated neuropeptide originally identified in bovine brain. It acts as a pain-modulating peptide, exhibiting anti-opioid activity on morphine-induced analgesia. In humans, NPFF peptides are encoded by the NPFF gene. Two genes encoding two distinct receptors (NPFF1 and NPFF2) and two precursors (NPFFA and NPFFB) have been identified in various mammalian species. NPFF and its related peptides, derived from two precursor molecules, interact with high affinity to two G protein-coupled receptor subtypes, NPFF1 and NPFF2. These interactions contribute to a range of physiological functions, including cardiovascular regulation, hormonal control, macrophage activation, body temperature homeostasis, and pain modulation. The NPFFA precursor undergoes processing at basic proteolytic sites, generating a NPFF-containing peptide with three additional N-terminal amino acids that vary between species. Additionally, it produces a NPSF (SLAAPQRFa)-containing peptide, whose length depends on the species. NPFFB, identified as a precursor for RFamide-related peptides (RFRPs, also known as GnIH for gonadotropin inhibitory hormone), contains a LPLRFa-containing peptide and a peptide sharing the same C-terminal PQRFamide motif with NPFF, such as NPVF (VPNLPQRFa) in humans. NPFF and opioid systems demonstrate interactions at multiple levels, from animal behavior to receptor molecules. Nociception is the physiological function where this interaction has been most extensively studied, but it also impacts reward, locomotion, feeding, and intestinal motility. Endogenous opioids are essential for the analgesic properties of spinally injected NPFF, while endogenous NPFF peptides play a role in the development of analgesic tolerance/hyperalgesia induced by chronic opioid treatment. Furthermore, NPFF regulates the number and metabolic effects of adipose tissue macrophages, and its presence is crucial for adipose tissue health.
NPFF is also known as FMRFAL.
Associated Diseases
- schizophrenia 15
- Phelan-McDermid syndrome
- Potocki-Lupski syndrome
- Smith-Magenis syndrome
- intellectual developmental disorder, X-linked, syndromic, Pilorge type
- FRAXE intellectual disability
- migraine disorder
- spinal cord injury
