The galanin peptide family: Receptor pharmacology, pleiotropic biological actions, and implications in health and disease

Abstract

The galanin peptide family consists of the "parental" galanin, galanin-message-associated peptide (GMAP) which derives from the same peptide precursor gene product as galanin, galanin-like peptide (GALP) encoded by a different gene, and the recently discovered peptide alarin which is encoded by a splice variant of the GALP gene. The galanin receptor family currently comprises 3 members, GalR1, GalR2, and GalR3, which are all G-protein-coupled receptors. This review will provide an overview of the comprehensive, pharmacological characterization of endogenous and synthetic galanin receptor ligands and their interactions with the galanin receptors, a summary of the various (pleiotropic) biologi..