Neurokinin B (NK3) Receptor Neurons

Neurokinin B (NK3) Receptor Neurons

Introduction

<table class="infobox infobox-cell">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">Neurokinin B (NK3) Receptor Neurons</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Taxonomy</td>
<td>ID</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Cell Ontology (CL)</td>
<td>[CL:0000197](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ols4/ontologies/cl/classes/http%253A%252F%252Fpurl.obolibrary.org%252Fobo%252FCL_0000197)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Receptor Type</td>
<td>NK3 (TACR3)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Family</td>
<td>Tachykinin (Neurokinin)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Signaling Mechanism</td>
<td>Gq protein-coupled, activates phospholipase C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Primary Location</td>
<td>Substantia nigra, basal ganglia, hippocampus</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Agonists</td>
<td>Neurokinin B (NKB), Substance P (lower affinity)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Antagonists</td>
<td>Osanetant, Talnetant</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Region</td>
<td>NK3 Expression</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Substantia nigra</td>
<td>High</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Striatum</td>
<td>High</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Hippocampus</td>
<td>Moderate</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Hypothalamus</td>
<td>High</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Amygdala</td>
<td>Moderate</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Cerebral cortex</td>
<td>Low</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td cl

Neurokinin B (NK3) Receptor Neurons

Introduction

<table class="infobox infobox-cell">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">Neurokinin B (NK3) Receptor Neurons</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Taxonomy</td>
<td>ID</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Cell Ontology (CL)</td>
<td>[CL:0000197](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ols4/ontologies/cl/classes/http%253A%252F%252Fpurl.obolibrary.org%252Fobo%252FCL_0000197)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Receptor Type</td>
<td>NK3 (TACR3)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Family</td>
<td>Tachykinin (Neurokinin)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Signaling Mechanism</td>
<td>Gq protein-coupled, activates phospholipase C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Primary Location</td>
<td>Substantia nigra, basal ganglia, hippocampus</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Agonists</td>
<td>Neurokinin B (NKB), Substance P (lower affinity)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Antagonists</td>
<td>Osanetant, Talnetant</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Region</td>
<td>NK3 Expression</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Substantia nigra</td>
<td>High</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Striatum</td>
<td>High</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Hippocampus</td>
<td>Moderate</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Hypothalamus</td>
<td>High</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Amygdala</td>
<td>Moderate</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Cerebral cortex</td>
<td>Low</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Compound</td>
<td>Status</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Osanetant</td>
<td>Phase II</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Talnetant</td>
<td>Phase II</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">AZD-4901</td>
<td>Preclinical</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Maropitant</td>
<td>Veterinary</td>
</tr>
</table>

Neurokinin B (Nk3) Receptor Neurons is an important cell type in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.

Overview

Neurokinin B (NK3) Receptor Neurons are neurons expressing the NK3 receptor, a member of the Tachykinin receptor family. These receptor neurons play crucial roles in dopamine modulation, thermoregulation and are implicated in various neurological and neurodegenerative conditions. [@tachykinin]

<!-- multi-taxonomy-enrichment -->

Multi-Taxonomy Classification

Taxonomy Database Cross-References

External Database Links

• [Cell Ontology (CL:0000197)](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ols4/ontologies/cl/classes/http%253A%252F%252Fpurl.obolibrary.org%252Fobo%252FCL_0000197)
• [OBO Foundry (CL:0000197)](http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/CL_0000197)
• [Allen Brain Cell Atlas](https://portal.brain-map.org/atlases-and-data/bkp/abc-atlas)
• [CellxGene Census](https://cellxgene.cziscience.com/)
• [Human Cell Atlas](https://www.humancellatlas.org/)

Receptor Properties

Function

Neurokinin B (NK3) Receptor Neurons are neurons expressing the [NK3 receptor](/entities/tacr3), a member of the [Tachykinin receptor family](/mechanisms/tachykinin-signaling). These receptor neurons play crucial roles in [dopamine modulation](/mechanisms/dopamine-signaling), [thermoregulation](/mechanisms/hypothalamic-metabolism), [neuroinflammation](/mechanisms/neuroinflammation), and are implicated in [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease), [schizophrenia](/diseases/schizophrenia), and [reproductive neuroendocrinology](/mechanisms/kisspeptin-neuroendocrinology).

The NK3 receptor signals through [Gq protein-coupled](/mechanisms/gpcr-signaling) mechanisms, activating phospholipase C, leading to:

• [Intracellular calcium release](/mechanisms/calcium-dysregulation-alzheimers) via IP3
• [Protein kinase C activation](/mechanisms/protein-kinase-c-signaling)
• [MAPK/ERK signaling](/mechanisms/erk-mapk-signaling-neurodegeneration)
• [Gene transcription changes](/mechanisms/epigenetic-regulation) via CREB

Distribution in Brain

Disease Implications

NK3 receptor neurons are implicated in several conditions:

Parkinson's Disease

• [Substantia nigra](/brain-regions/substantia-nigra): NK3 receptors modulate dopaminergic neuron activity
• [Motor dysfunction](/mechanisms/motor-circuit-dysfunction): Dysregulated NKB signaling affects basal ganglia circuits
• [Neuroinflammation](/mechanisms/neuroinflammation): NKB promotes microglial activation
• [Therapeutic potential](/therapeutics/parkinsons-disease-treatment): NK3 antagonists may protect dopamine neurons

Schizophrenia

• [Dopamine dysregulation](/mechanisms/dopamine-signaling): NK3 receptors regulate dopamine release
• [Negative symptoms](/diseases/schizophrenia): NKB system alterations linked to anhedonia
• [Cognitive deficits](/mechanisms/cognitive-deficit-ad): Hippocampal NK3 involvement
• [NK3 antagonists](/therapeutics/osanetant): In clinical trials for schizophrenia

Alzheimer's Disease

• [Hippocampal dysfunction](/mechanisms/amyloid-cascade-pathway): NK3 modulates memory circuits
• [Calcium dysregulation](/mechanisms/calcium-dysregulation-alzheimers): Gq signaling contributes to overload
• [Neuroinflammation](/mechanisms/neuroinflammation): NKB-mediated microglial activation

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

• [Motor neuron vulnerability](/diseases/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis): Tachykinin receptor alterations
• [Neuroinflammation](/mechanisms/neuroinflammation): NKB promotes glial activation

Neuropeptide Y Connections

NK3 receptor neurons interact with the [neuropeptide Y (NPY) system](/cell-types/neuropeptide-y-agrp-neurons):

• Co-localization: Some NPY/AgRP neurons express NK3 receptors
• Metabolic regulation: Cross-talk between tachykinin and NPY systems
• [Hypothalamic control](/brain-regions/hypothalamus): Shared roles in energy homeostasis

Therapeutic Targets

NK3 Receptor Antagonists

Drug Development Strategies

• Blood-brain barrier penetration: Essential for CNS targets
• Subtype selectivity: Avoiding off-target effects
• Allosteric modulators: More selective targeting

Gene Therapy Approaches

• NKB knockdown: Reducing tachykinin overexpression
• NK3 upregulation: Enhancing neuroprotective signaling

See Also

• [Substantia Nigra](/brain-regions/substantia-nigra)
• [Basal Ganglia](/brain-regions/basal-ganglia)
• [Hippocampus](/brain-regions/hippocampus)
• [Hypothalamus](/brain-regions/hypothalamus)
• [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease)
• [Schizophrenia](/diseases/schizophrenia)
• [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
• [Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis](/diseases/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis)
• [Dopamine Signaling](/mechanisms/dopamine-signaling)
• [Tachykinin Signaling](/mechanisms/tachykinin-signaling)
• [GPCR Signaling](/mechanisms/gpcr-signaling)
• [Neuroinflammation](/mechanisms/neuroinflammation)
• [Calcium Dysregulation](/mechanisms/calcium-dysregulation-alzheimers)
• [Hypothalamic Metabolism](/mechanisms/hypothalamic-metabolism)

Background

The study of Neurokinin B (Nk3) Receptor Neurons has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.

Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.

External Links

• [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) - Biomedical literature
• [Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative](https://adni.loni.usc.edu/) - Research data
• [Allen Brain Atlas](https://brain-map.org/) - Brain gene expression data

Pathway Diagram

The following diagram shows the key molecular relationships involving Neurokinin B (NK3) Receptor Neurons discovered through SciDEX knowledge graph analysis: