Orexigenic Regulation of Homeostasis: From Development to Ageing

Homeostasis refers to the dynamic processes that allow the body to maintain internal stability in the face of constant physiological and environmental challenges. Hormones play an essential role in coordinating these regulatory mechanisms, acting as chemical messengers that integrate responses across diverse systems to preserve temperature, pH, osmolarity, and nutrient availability. Traditionally, orexigenic and anorexigenic hormones have been studied primarily in the context of food intake and energy balance. However, growing evidence shows that their actions extend far beyond ingestive behavior. Receptors for these hormones are widely distributed in organs such as the heart, kidneys, vasculature, and adipose tissue, indicating that these signaling pathways contribute to the regulation of multiple physiological functions.Hormonal dynamics are also shaped early in life by maternal health, epigenetic programming, genetic predisposition, and environmental stressors. These early influences can permanently affect energy homeostasis, neuroendocrine circuits, and organ development, ultimately shaping metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurobehavioral outcomes across the lifespan. Understanding the multisystemic roles of orexigenic pathways—from development to aging—may provide critical insights for preventing and treating complex chronic diseases.This Research Topic embraces an integrative and interdisciplinary perspective, bridging fields such as Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics, Nutrition, Physiology, and Neuroscience. We welcome a wide range of article types, including original research, brief reports, mini-reviews, conceptual analyses, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, methods articles, case reports, perspectives, and opinion pieces addressing orexigenic hormones and their multisystemic regulation across the lifespan.By gathering diverse scientific approaches and perspectives, this collection aims to advance our understanding of how orexigenic hormones orchestrate multisystem regulation, reveal novel mechanisms of physiological adaptation, and inspire innovative strategies for promoting health and preventing disease throughout life. Topic editors: Aline M. A. De Souza, Aline Rezende Ribeiro de Abreu, Carlos Henrique Xavier Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77889/orexigenic-regulation-of-homeostasis-from-development-to-ageing