The role of phoenixin in the regulation of endocrine function
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/KOSMOS.2025.030Keywords
phoenixin, phoenixin receptor of GPR173, neuropeptides, endocrine systemAbstract
The endocrine system is a crucial system controlling the homeostasis of the entire organism, thanks to hormones secreted by numerous endocrine glands. It primarily acts through feedback loops between central and target glands. In addition to the classical regulatory pathway, there are biologically active molecules such as neuropeptides that also modulate the hormonal balance. Discovered a decade ago, phoenixin is a neuropeptide that exists in two active isoforms consisting of 20 (phoenixin-20) and 14 (phoenixin-14) amino acid residues. Both forms exert multidirectional action on the body, including hormone secretion. This review summarizes the existing literature on the role of phoenixin in the hormonal system. So far, its influence has been demonstrated on endocrine glands such as hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pancreas, liver, stomach, adipose tissue, and gonads, where it is involved in regulating food intake, metabolism, growth, and reproduction. Moreover, phoenixin level is disrupted in certain hormonal disorders. Therefore, further research on its function in the hormonal system could lead to the development of new therapy for these diseases.
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