Neuropeptides as Central Mediators of Cardiovascular Disease

Neuropeptide regulation of cardiovascular physiology is well established. However, the influence of neuropeptides on the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains poorly understood. Given that CVD is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide - killing 17 million people each year - and encompasses many complex, multi-organ pathologies, the study of the effects of neuropeptide regulation represent an important and novel frontier for discovery of the underlying causes of CVD. With that, many mechanisms contributing to CVD have been identified. Evidence is accumulating that neuropeptides play important roles in a variety of CVD’s including heart failure, arrhythmias, renal disease, and hypertension. Neuropeptides that have been identified as playing a role in CVD include calcitonin gene-related peptide, neuropeptide Y, substance P, and many others, as well as the varied receptors that mediate the functions of these neuropeptides. The contribution of neuropeptides to CVD is multifaceted; whilst some neuropeptides drive specific CVD’s (e.g. substance P), others serve protective functions (e.g. calcitonin gene-related peptide). Complicating matters even further, within the same disease the same neuropeptide can be protective and detrimental. The actions of neuropeptides involve interactions with multiple cell types including cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and inflammatory cells. Further, the extent to which neuropeptide regulation of CVD occurs at the central level, the local level, or both is also not well understood and highly understudied. As such, there is a real need for a greater understanding of the role of neuropeptides and their nuances in specific CVD’s to facilitate and expand the opportunities to develop new potential therapeutic targets and treatment strategies.
In designing this Research Topic focusing on “Neuropeptides as Central Mediators of Cardiovascular Disease”, we are seeking original research as well as review articles providing new evidence, points of view, and consolidation of the literature in a multidisciplinary platform in relation to the adverse and protective functions of neuropeptides in CVD. This is an exciting area that is vastly underappreciated, but holds great promise for the understanding and treatment of CVD. The goal of this Research Topic is to bring attention to this field with the hope of increasing interest in this area and the development of therapies for various CVD’s.