Immunomodulatory Role of Neuropeptide Y in Intestinal Inflammation

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36-amino acid peptide found in the brain, autonomic nervous system, and different peripheral tissues, including the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Dysfunction of the NPY or NPY system has been implicated in various tumor microenvironments and cardiovascular and GI disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD, including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a major health concern due to its increasing incidence globally. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that NPY also acts as a potent immunomodulator by linking the nervous and immune systems. NPY plays an important role in immunopathology during intestinal inflammation. This paper discusses the potential role of NPY as a valuable biomarker for IBD due to its consistent upregulation in both in vivo and clinical studies. Consequently, it confirms the pro-inflammatory effects of NPY, providing a rational basis for targeting NPY signaling as a therapeutic strategy.