TY - JOUR
T1 - Cholecystokinin and panic disorder
T2 - reflections on the history and some unsolved questions
AU - Rehfeld, Jens F
PY - 2021/9/17
Y1 - 2021/9/17
N2 - The classic gut hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) and its CCK2-receptor are expressed in almost all regions of the brain. This widespread expression makes CCK by far the most abundant peptidergic transmitter system in the brain. This CNS-ubiquity has, however, complicated the delineation of the roles of CCK peptides in normal brain functions and neuropsychiatric diseases. Nevertheless, the common panic disorder disease is apparently associated with CCK in the brain. Thus, the C-terminal tetrapeptide fragment of CCK (CCK-4) induces, by intravenous administration in a dose-related manner, panic attacks that are similar to the endogenous attacks in panic disorder patients. This review describes the history behind the discovery of the panicogenic effect of CCK-4. Subsequently, the review discusses three unsettled questions about the involvement of cerebral CCK in the pathogenesis of anxiety and panic disorder, including therapeutic attempts with CCK2-receptor antagonists.
AB - The classic gut hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) and its CCK2-receptor are expressed in almost all regions of the brain. This widespread expression makes CCK by far the most abundant peptidergic transmitter system in the brain. This CNS-ubiquity has, however, complicated the delineation of the roles of CCK peptides in normal brain functions and neuropsychiatric diseases. Nevertheless, the common panic disorder disease is apparently associated with CCK in the brain. Thus, the C-terminal tetrapeptide fragment of CCK (CCK-4) induces, by intravenous administration in a dose-related manner, panic attacks that are similar to the endogenous attacks in panic disorder patients. This review describes the history behind the discovery of the panicogenic effect of CCK-4. Subsequently, the review discusses three unsettled questions about the involvement of cerebral CCK in the pathogenesis of anxiety and panic disorder, including therapeutic attempts with CCK2-receptor antagonists.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85115388691&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/molecules26185657
DO - 10.3390/molecules26185657
M3 - Review
C2 - 34577128
SN - 1420-3049
VL - 26
JO - Molecules
JF - Molecules
IS - 18
M1 - 5657
ER -