Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) neurons represent a major neuromodulatory system in the central nervous system, widely distributed across brain regions involved in energy homeostasis, reward processing, stress responses, and neuroprotection. CART peptides, derived from the CARTPT gene, act as neurotransmitters and neuropeptides with widespread physiological effects relevant to neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis. [1]
| Property | Value | [2]
|----------|-------| [3]
| Category | Neuropeptide Neurons | [4]
| Location | Hypothalamus, amygdala, cortex, hippocampus, brainstem | [5]
| Cell Types | CART peptide-producing neurons | [6]
| Primary Neurotransmitter | CART (cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript) |
| Key Markers | CARTPT (prepro-CART), CART immunoreactivity |
CART neurons are densely concentrated in:
CART neurons exhibit:
The CARTPT gene encodes prepro-CART, which is processed into active peptides:
CART signaling occurs through:
CART neurons play critical roles in metabolic regulation:
In mesolimbic circuits:
CART modulates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis:
Emerging evidence for neuroprotective functions:
CART neurons may influence AD pathogenesis through:
In PD:
CART-based interventions for:
CART as potential biomarker:
Koylu EO et al. Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide immunoreactivity in the rat brain. J Comp Neurol. 1998;398(2):251-272. 1998. ↩︎
Vicentic A et al. CART peptide: roles in neuroendocrine function and addiction. Peptides. 2006;27(9):2385-2394. 2006. ↩︎
Lau J et al. The role of CART in energy homeostasis and metabolic disorders. Front Endocrinol. 2020;11:565430. 2020. ↩︎
Rogge G et al. CART peptides and drugs of abuse. Peptides. 2009;30(10):1874-1881. 2009. ↩︎
Zhang M et al. Neuroprotective effects of CART against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. J Mol Neurosci. 2021;71(11):2265-2277. 2021. ↩︎
Damase C et al. The broad-spectrum therapeutic potential of CART peptides. Front Pharmacol. 2021;12:751237. 2021. ↩︎