Key result
NOP agonists and antagonists show preclinical promise for treating stress and PTSD.
Why the study?
The functions of nociceptin/orphanin (N/OFQ), an endogenous ligand of the nociceptin opioid-like receptor (NOP), are multiple and still not completely clear.
This review highlights the potential of targeting the nociceptin/orphanin system (NOP agonists and antagonists) for treating stress-related mental illnesses like PTSD.
The endogenous opioid system, known for its unique role in the complex neurochemical regulation of physiological functions and behavior, is a bright illustration of the concept of the peptide continuum proposed by I.P. Ashmarin [1,2]. The last of the discovered opioid neuropeptides was nociceptin/orphanin (N/OFQ), an endogenous ligand of the nociceptin opioid-like receptor (NOP), whose functions are multiple and still not completely clear. In contrast to the active expression of the receptor in various brain regions, N/OFQ expression is more limited and predominantly localized in structures associated with stress and regulation of dopamine neurotransmission. This review presents a current view on the role of N/OFQ and NOP in the modulation of stress and related mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Preclinical data suggest that the use of both NOP agonists and antagonists may represent a promising approach to the treatment of these diseases.
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Shamakina et al. (2025) conducted a review in Stress and related mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder. NOP agonists and antagonists was evaluated. Preclinical data suggest that the use of both NOP agonists and antagonists may represent a promising approach to the treatment of stress and related mental illnesses, including PTSD.
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