Neurotensin

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Abstract

Neurotensin is a 13-amino-acid peptide originally isolated from the hypothalamus, with similar peptides subsequently found in other parts of the brain, pituitary, and intestine. Neurotensin has more than 30 documented biological effects, but the most important ones are activation of a number of neuroendocrine systems and modulation of digestive tract function. Pathological effects include acceleration of some cancers, production by pancreatic endocrine tumours and inducing of intestinal inflammation. Neurotensin agonist has therapeutic potential for use as opioid independent analgesics. The mechanisms of action of neurotensin are neurocrine, paracrine, and neuromodulator rather than endocrine.

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Change History: July 2014. A Shulkes added Additional sentences in the following sections. Biological Effects: food intake, intestinal inflammation, analgesia. Pathology: oncogenic effects, potential biomarker role of proneurotensin. Further Reading: added newer references and deleted some older ones.

This article is an update of Arthur Shulkes, Neurotensin, In Encyclopedia of Endocrine Diseases, edited by Luciano Martini, Elsevier, New York, 2004, Pages 346-349.

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