Nociceptin/orphanin Fq: the Novel Peptide with Multiple Old Regulatory Functions

The identification some years ago of the opioid-like heptadecapeptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOFQ) as the endogenous ligand of orphan opioid like-1 (ORL1) receptor evoked a rapidly growing interest in understanding the physiological significance of this peptide. This initiated a great number of investigations aimed at studying the cellular and integrative effects of NOFQ and disclosing the mechanism of its action. The number of publications in this field is increasing constantly and a great deal of information along with some controversial data is being already accumulated. In the present article we attempted to summarise most of the current information about NOFQ generation, metabolism, mechanisms of action and the cellular and integrative effects and to emphasise the possibilities for clinical implications. Biomed Rev 2000; 11: 1-17.