Obesity confers an increased risk for cardiovascular renal diseases, diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, musculoskeletal disorders, and cancers. Prokineticin‐2 is a peptide hormone, which exists as both a circulating hormone system and a local paracrine‐signaling mechanism within various tissues including the brain, kidney, and adipose. It acts on the G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) PKR1 and PKR2. The role of prokineticin‐2 in the central nervous system is the control of food intake. Its anorexigenic effect is at least partly through the hypothalamic melanocortin system. Prokineticin‐2 also prevents adipose tissue expansion by limiting preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation capacity. Prokineticin‐2 signaling is important for insulin capillary passages. It also regulates heart and kidney development and function. Here, we discuss a new obesity peptide prokineticin signaling in central regulation of food intake, adipocyte tissue development, and cardiovascular function. Prokineticin may play a key role in the association between obesity and cardiovascular diseases. We also outline the potential of prokineticin receptor‐1 as target for the treatment of obesity and cardiovascular diseases.
Part of the book: Adiposity