Skip to main content
Elsevier
View Cart

Prokineticins

From the Gastrointestinal Tract to Neuroinflammation

  • 1st Edition - October 1, 2026
  • Latest edition
  • Editors: Roberta Lattanzi, Rossella Miele
  • Language: English

Prokineticins: From the Gastrointestinal Tract to Neuroinflammation explores the intricate biology and pathophysiological roles of prokineticin peptides, from developmental proces… Read more

World Book Day celebration

Where learning shapes lives

Up to 25% off trusted resources that support research, study, and discovery.

Explore resources

Description

Prokineticins: From the Gastrointestinal Tract to Neuroinflammation explores the intricate biology and pathophysiological roles of prokineticin peptides, from developmental processes in the heart and brain to the regulation of homeostasis in health and disease. Divided into thirteen sections, this book comprehensively presents the latest knowledge on the PK family. Beginning with an introduction to prokineticins, the book moves on to discuss physiological functions across the human body, including the regulation of circadian rhythm, food intake, heart and kidney function and the reproductive system. Chapters then cover the prokineticin system in neurogenesis dysfunction, obesity and diabetes, reproductive system disorders and cardiovascular diseases. The prokinetcin system is also explored in the context of neurodegenerative disease and traumatic brain injury, pain, inflammation, infection and cancer. It also investigates natural and pharmacological inhibitors of PK receptors and closes with a look towards future research perspectives.

Prokineticins: From the Gastrointestinal Tract to Neuroinflammation provides an interdisciplinary understanding of the communicative role of PKs in various functions and pathological conditions, and is an invaluable reference for researchers working across molecular biology, cell biology, pharmacology and biochemistry who want to understand the effect of prokineticins across the human body.

Key features

  • Explores the diverse physiological roles of prokineticins in neurogenesis, circadian rhythm, reproduction, and cardiovascular function
  • Investigates the pathophysiological implications of altered prokineticin expression in diseases including cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders
  • Highlights the therapeutic potential of prokineticin receptors as targets for treating cardiovascular, metabolic, and nervous system conditions
  • Provides comprehensive analyses of endogenous peptides, synthetic ligands, and modulators of prokineticin receptors in preclinical models
  • Serves as an essential resource for biologists, clinicians, and students, bridging gaps in understanding PKs across various fields

Readership

Researchers at PhD level and above across biological and biomedical sciences including molecular biology, cell biology, pharmacology, and biochemistry

Table of contents

Part I. Introduction

1 Prokineticin phylogenesis: from early studies in frogs to mammals

2. Prokineticins: structure, distribution and regulation

3. Prokineticin receptors: structure, distribution and regulation

4. Prokineticin system: signal transduction

Part II. Relation structure-function

5. Prokineticins and splice isoforms

6. Prokineticin receptors and splicing isoforms

7. Structural elements underlying prokineticin-receptor interactions

8. Interaction of prokineticin receptors with accessory proteins

Part III. Physiological functions of the prokineticin system

9. Neurogenesis

10. Regulation of circadian rhythm

11. Regulation of food intake and energy balance

12. Regulation of the development and function of reproductive system.

13. Regulation of the development and function of heart

14. Regulation of the development and function of kidney

Part IV. The prokineticin system in neurogenesis disfunctions

15. The prokineticin system in Kallmann syndrome

16. The prokineticin system in Hirschprung disease

17. The prokineticin system in mood disorders and stress

Part V. The prokineticin system in obesity and diabetes

18. Central regulation of obesity through prokineticin signalling

19. Regulation of visceral adipose tissue growth by prokineticin signalling

20. The role of the prokineticin system in metabolic syndrome

21. The role of the prokineticin system in insulin resistance

22. The role of the prokineticin system in diabetes-mediated cardiomyopathy and diabetes-mediated skeletal muscle dysfunction

23. The role of prokineticin 2 in torpor and temperature regulation

Part VI. The prokineticin system in disorders of the reproductive system functions

24. The role of the prokineticin system in female infertility: gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia

25. The role of the prokineticin system in male infertility: Klinefelter syndrome

Part VII. The prokineticin system in cardiovascular diseases

26. The role of the prokineticin system in cardiovascular diseases: myocardial infarction-induced heart failure

27. The role of the prokineticin system in the development of pathological hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Part VIII. The prokineticin system in neurodegenerative disease and in neuronal injury

28. Alzheimer's disease

29. Parkinson’s disease

30. Traumatic brain injury

Part IX. The prokineticin system in pain

31. Nociceptive pain

32. Inflammatory pain

33. Neuropathic pain

34. Pleasant touch

Part X. The prokineticin system in autoimmunity, inflammation and infection

35. General inflammation

36. Multiple Sclerosis

37. Arthritis and Osteoarthritis

38. Gastro-intestinal inflammatory diseases

39. Covid

40. Chagas Disease

Part XI. The prokineticin system in cancer-related inflammation

41. Prokineticins and cancer progression

42. Prokineticins in different types of cancer

43. Prokineticins as biomarkers
Part XII. Natural and pharmacological inhibitors of PK receptors

44. Non peptide antagonists of the prokineticin receptors

45. Peptide antagonists of the prokineticin receptors

Part XIII - Conclusion

46. Future directions for PK research

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: October 1, 2026
  • Language: English

About the editors

RL

Roberta Lattanzi

Roberta Lattanzi is an Associate Professor at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Her research focuses on investigating the functional role of neuropeptides in various biological activities.

For several years she has contributed to studies on dermorphins and deltorphins, two important classes of opioid peptides, using receptor binding techniques and in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activity assays. More recently, she has been involved in the identification of a new system of proteins (Bv8/prokineticins) and their receptors and contributed to the study of the diverse physiological and pathological activities in which this system is involved. In particular, she has been dedicated to elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying prokineticin-induced nociceptive sensitization and to studying the involvement of the prokineticin system in inflammation/neuroinflammation. She has published over 100 publications with more than 2400 citations.

Affiliations and expertise
Associated Professor Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “Vittorio Erspamer” Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine Sapienza University of Rome Rome, Italy

RM

Rossella Miele

Rossella Miele’s is a researcher at the Department of Biochemical Science at University of Rome, Italy. Her research has always focused on investigating the structure-function of protein and analysis of mechanisms of protein expression using multiple approaches, including molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics using techniques in vitro and in vivo. She has published over 50 publications with more than 1400 citations.

Affiliations and expertise
Researcher Department of Biochemical Science “A. Rossi Fanelli” Sapienza, University of Rome Rome, Italy