Topics and Trends in Most Cited Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology Papers

Ranked by citations 18 months after publication

Class of 2026 (Papers Published in 2024)

What topics and trends defined most-cited Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology research in the Class of 2026?

GLP-1 receptor agonists, sensory neurons, type 2 diabetes, and neuroimmune interactions define the Class of 2026 neuropeptides and animal physiology cohort. Metabolic incretin signaling, dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists, and pain/neuroimmune pathways rose sharply from the Class of 2025, while traditional G protein coupling and allosteric GPCR framing receded among top-cited papers.

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Updated July 31, 2026

At a glance

Field
Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
Cohort label
Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed
2,715
Papers ranked
20
Top topics in ranked papers
GLP-1 receptor agonists, Sensory neurons, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Neuroimmune interaction, GPCR signaling
Publication window
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility
Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window
18 months post-publication
18m citation range
24–127
Data source
OpenAlex · Retrieved Jul 2026
License
CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#2 of 2,715
11618m citations

A GIPR antagonist conjugated to GLP-1 analogues promotes weight loss with improved metabolic parameters in preclinical and phase 1 settings

Murielle M Véniant, Shu-Chen Lu et al.Nature Metabolism202410.1038/s42255-023-00966-w

Murielle M. VéniantAmgen Research, United States

maridebart cafraglutideGIPR antagonistGLP-1 receptor agonistsbispecific moleculeanti-human GIPR monoclonal antibodyincretin receptorsBody weight lossmetabolic markersDiet-induced obesitycynomolgus monkeysphase 1 clinical trialdose-dependent weight lossMultiple ascending dose studyobesityamino acid linkersNCT04478708
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#3 of 2,715
8018m citations

A chemogenetic screen reveals that Trpv1-expressing neurons control regulatory T cells in the gut

Yangyang Zhu, Kimberly A Meerschaert, Christophe Benoist, Isaac M Chiu et al.Science202410.1126/science.adk1679

Yangyang Zhu, Kimberly A. Meerschaert, Christophe Benoıst, Isaac M. ChiuHarvard Medical School, United States

Chemogenetic manipulationTrpv1-expressing neuronsregulatory T cellsNeuroimmune interactiondeep immunophenotypingmicrobiome profilingimmunocyte transcriptomicsnitrergic neuronsT helper 17 cellscholinergic neuronsSensory neuronsinnate lymphocytesRORγ+ regulatory T cellsCalcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)nociceptionIntestinal barrier
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#4 of 2,715
5418m citations

Neuropeptide signalling orchestrates T cell differentiation

Yu Hou, Linyu Sun et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-08049-w

Aviv Regev, Arlene H. Sharpe, Vijay K. KuchrooGene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, United States

Neuropeptide signalingT cell differentiationNeuroimmune interactionneuropeptide receptorsT cell subsetsimmune cell regulationpeptidergic signalinglymphocyte developmentneuropeptide-immune axis
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#5 of 2,715
4718m citations

Distinct µ-opioid ensembles trigger positive and negative fentanyl reinforcement

Fabrice Chaudun et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07440-x

Christian LüscherUniversity of Geneva, Switzerland

fentanylμ-opioid receptorpositive reinforcementnegative reinforcementventral tegmental areacentral amygdalaGABA neuronsdopamine neuronsnucleus accumbensopioid withdrawalµ-opioid receptor knockdowndopamine transientsOptogenetic manipulationplace aversionlever pressingneuronal ensemblescircuit adaptationsOpioid use disorder
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#6 of 2,715
4118m citations

Ligand efficacy modulates conformational dynamics of the µ-opioid receptor

Jiawei Zhao, Matthias Elgeti et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07295-2

Matthias Elgeti, Brian K. Kobilka, Chunlai ChenTsinghua University, China

μ-opioid receptorligand efficacyConformational changesdouble electron–electron resonancesingle-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transferintrinsic efficacycytoplasmic face conformationspre-activated conformationfully activated conformationG protein couplingGDP affinityternary complexβ-arrestin
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#7 of 2,715
3918m citations

Unlocking opioid neuropeptide dynamics with genetically encoded biosensors

Chunyang Dong, Raajaram Gowrishankar et al.Nature Neuroscience202410.1038/s41593-024-01697-1

Michael R. Bruchas, Matthew R. Banghart, Lin TianUniversity of California Davis, United States

opioid neuropeptidesGenetically encoded fluorescent sensorsκ-opioid receptorδ-opioid receptorμ-opioid receptorκLightδLightµLightdynorphinvolume transmissionfiber photometryOptogenetic manipulationbrain slicesdissociated neuronsspatiotemporal dynamicsendogenous opioid releasefear conditioningrewardPain modulationcircuit-specific imaging
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#8 of 2,715
3918m citations

GLP-1R–positive neurons in the lateral septum mediate the anorectic and weight-lowering effects of liraglutide in mice

Zijun Chen et al.Journal of Clinical Investigation202410.1172/jci178239

Yingjie ZhuShenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

liraglutideGLP-1 receptorGLP-1R-positive neuronslateral septumLSGLP-1R neuronsFood intake inhibitionweight-loss effectsChemogenetic manipulationGLP-1 receptor knockdownhypothalamusBody weight regulationnaturalistic feeding episodessynaptic inactivationenergy homeostasis
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#9 of 2,715
3318m citations

Inhalable cardiac targeting peptide modified nanomedicine prevents pressure overload heart failure in male mice

Haobo Weng, Weijuan Zou, Fangyan Tian et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-50312-1

Jianrong Wu, Yuanyi Zheng, Xianhong ShuFudan University, China

cardiac targeting peptidecalcium phosphate nanoparticlesTP-10PDE10A inhibitorinhalable nanomedicinepressure overload heart failurecardiac remodellingcardiomyocyte targetingcardiac fibroblast targetingcAMP/AMPK signaling pathwaycGMP/PKG signaling pathwaylung injury assessmentCaP nanoparticle biosafety
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#11 of 2,715
3318m citations

The pharmacological basis for nonpeptide agonism of the GLP-1 receptor by orforglipron

Kyle W Sloop et al.Science Translational Medicine202410.1126/scitranslmed.adp5765

Kyle W. SloopEli Lilly and Company, United States

OrforglipronGLP-1 receptornonpeptide agonistsType 2 diabetes mellitusobesitycompetition binding experimentsintrinsic efficacyβ-arrestinreceptor occupancyCRISPR-Cas9 gene editingGlp1r S33WsemaglutideDiet-induced obesityoral bioavailabilitytarget engagementSignal transductionGlucose tolerancepeptide receptors
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#12 of 2,715
3018m citations

Inputs to the locus coeruleus from the periaqueductal gray and rostroventral medulla shape opioid-mediated descending pain modulation

Susan T Lubejko et al.Science Advances202410.1126/sciadv.adj9581

Matthew R. BanghartUniversity of California, San Diego, United States

locus coeruleusperiaqueductal grayrostroventral medullaPain modulationnoradrenergic neuronsAntinociceptionVentrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG)opioid-sensitive inhibitory inputdisinhibitionbifurcating outputsdescending serotonergic pathwaysmonoaminergic modulationpain-related activityexcitatory output from vlPAG to LCRVM inhibitory input
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#13 of 2,715
3018m citations

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide signalling as a therapeutic target in migraine

Håkan Ashina et al.Nature Reviews Neurology202410.1038/s41582-024-01011-4

Messoud AshinaCopenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Denmark

PACAPmigraineNeuropeptide signalingPAC1 receptorVPAC receptorsCalcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)trigeminovascular systemvasodilationmast cell degranulationPACAP inhibitionmonoclonal antibodiesmigraine preventionheadache disordersneuropeptide therapeutic targets
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#14 of 2,715
2918m citations

Somatosensory cortex and central amygdala regulate neuropathic pain-mediated peripheral immune response via vagal projections to the spleen

Xia Zhu, Ji-Ye Huang, Wan-Ying Dong, Hao-Di Tang, Wenjuan Tao, Yanghua Tian, Li Bai, Zhi Zhang et al.Nature Neuroscience202410.1038/s41593-023-01561-8

Wenjuan Tao, Yanghua Tian, Li Bai, Zhi ZhangUniversity of Science and Technology of China, China

somatosensory cortexcentral amygdalaneuropathic painperipheral immune responsevagal projectionsspleenNeuroimmune interactioncentral-to-peripheral neural pathwayvagus nervesplenic immune regulationbrain-spleen axispain-related immunosuppression
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#15 of 2,715
2818m citations

Basolateral amygdala parvalbumin and cholecystokinin-expressing GABAergic neurons modulate depressive and anxiety-like behaviors

Muhammad Asim et al.Translational Psychiatry202410.1038/s41398-024-03135-z

Muhammad Asim, Jufang HeCity University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

basolateral amygdalaparvalbumin-expressing neuronscholecystokinin-expressing neuronsGABA neuronsdepressive-like behaviorsAnxiety-like behaviorc-fos stainingfiber photometryOptogenetic manipulationChemogenetic manipulationtail suspension testsocial defeat stresssocial interaction testsomatostatin-expressing neuronsfootshock aversive stimulihigh-frequency activationNeuronal modulationBLA inhibitory circuitsstress-induced neural plasticity
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#16 of 2,715
2718m citations

Cytokines reprogram airway sensory neurons in asthma

Theo Crosson et al.Cell Reports202410.1016/j.celrep.2024.115045

Sébastien TalbotUniversité de Montréal, Canada

Sensory neuronsallergic airway inflammationbronchial hypersensitivityNeuropeptide Y receptorovalbumin mouse modelInterleukin 1β (IL-1β)IL-13brain-derived neurotrophic factorJAK/STAT6 pathwayNPYbronchoalveolar fluidsingle-cell RNA sequencingNPY1R knockoutT cell infiltrationretrograde tracingneuronal reprogramming
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#17 of 2,715
2618m citations

Machine learning designs new GCGR/GLP-1R dual agonists with enhanced biological potency

Anna M Puszkarska et al.Nature Chemistry202410.1038/s41557-024-01532-x

Lucy J. ColwellUniversity of Cambridge, United Kingdom

GCGRGLP-1 receptorDual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonistspeptide sequence optimizationdeep multi-task neural networkmultiple loss optimizationin vitro potency predictionType 2 diabetes mellitusobesitymodel-guided sequence designglucagon receptorbiological activity enhancementsevenfold potency improvementmachine learning peptide design
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#18 of 2,715
2518m citations

Profiling the proximal proteome of the activated μ-opioid receptor

Benjamin J Polacco, Braden T Lobingier et al.Nature Chemical Biology202410.1038/s41589-024-01588-3

Mark von Zastrow, Ruth HüttenhainUniversity of California, San Francisco, United States

μ-opioid receptorproximal proteomeproximity labelingreceptor activationprotein-protein interactionsOpioid receptor signalingGPCR interactomemass spectrometry proteomicsReceptor traffickingsignaling complexes
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#20 of 2,715
2418m citations

GPCR-dependent and -independent arrestin signaling

Vsevolod V Gurevich et al.Trends in Pharmacological Sciences202410.1016/j.tips.2024.05.007

Vsevolod V. GurevichVanderbilt University, United States

G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)β-arrestinreceptor desensitizationSignal transductionFunctional selectivityMAPK signalingendocytosisReceptor traffickingscaffolding function
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Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

The informative word cloud across the highest 18-month-cited neuropeptides and animal physiology papers reveals a research landscape structured around metabolic neuropeptide signaling, sensory neurobiology, and GPCR functional selectivity. GLP-1 receptor agonists lead the cohort at 7 of 42 ranked papers (normalized frequency 0.167), co-occurring prominently with sensory neurons (7 papers, 0.167) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (7 papers, 0.167). The GLP-1 receptor (6 papers, 0.143) and neuroimmune interaction (6 papers, 0.143) form a central mechanistic bridge between central metabolic control and peripheral tissue innervation. Classic neuropeptide and receptor systems retain major representation, including β-arrestin (5 papers, 0.119), μ-opioid receptor (5 papers, 0.119), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP, 4 papers, 0.095). High-impact methodological and translational clusters feature optogenetic manipulation (4 papers, 0.095), chemogenetic manipulation (3 papers, 0.071), and functional selectivity (4 papers, 0.095) alongside receptor trafficking (4 papers, 0.095). Metabolic and therapeutic topics—specifically dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists (4 papers, 0.095), diet-induced obesity (4 papers, 0.095), semaglutide (4 papers, 0.095), and DPP-4 inhibitors (3 papers, 0.071)—highlight how neuropeptide biology is increasingly tied to systemic cardiometabolic regulation and targeted neuro-pharmacology.

Leading research themes
Leading research themes

How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

Comparing normalized concept frequencies between the Class of 2025 (2023 publications) and Class of 2026 (2024 publications) reveals a clear shift from foundational GPCR signal-transduction biophysics toward neuroimmune crosstalk and incretin-based metabolic physiology. Neuroimmune interaction demonstrated the largest net increase in normalized frequency (+0.120; rising from 1 paper to 6 papers, fold change 6.29), reflecting growing interest in peripheral nerve-immune organ axes. Sensory neurons (+0.098; 3 to 7 papers) and μ-opioid receptor (+0.074; 2 to 5 papers) also expanded substantially, alongside CGRP (+0.050; 2 to 4 papers) in pain and neurovascular physiology. Metabolic neuropeptides saw synchronized gains across type 2 diabetes (+0.076; 4 to 7 papers), GLP-1 receptor (+0.075; 3 to 6 papers), dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists (+0.073; 1 to 4 papers), semaglutide (+0.073; 1 to 4 papers), and diet-induced obesity (+0.073; 1 to 4 papers). Conversely, baseline G protein coupling exhibited the steepest decline (−0.179; dropping from 10 to 2 papers, fold change 0.21), with allosteric modulation (−0.066; 5 to 2 papers) and general GPCR terms (−0.042) also receding. Together, these trends mark a strategic transition in top-cited neuropeptide literature from isolated in vitro receptor dynamics to integrated whole-animal physiological systems.

How topics shifted year over year
How topics shifted year over year
Methodology

PRI identifies high-impact research using a transparent, topic-agnostic framework applied consistently across scientific domains. Bibliographic records are drawn from OpenAlex, including publication dates, citation relationships, and document types.

This ranking covers the Class of 2026 cohort: journal articles published in 2024. Reviews and other non-article document types are excluded to ensure comparability.

Research impact is quantified with an 18-month post-publication citation window—the number of citing works published within 18 months of each paper's publication date. This metric captures early impact while controlling for publication age.

An LLM-based relevance classifier then reviews each candidate's title and abstract to confirm substantive alignment with the target domain. Only papers classified as relevant appear in the final ranking.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459

Full methodologyGitHubbioRxiv preprint

Cite this ranking

Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/neuropeptides-and-animal-physiology/2026. Accessed 2026-07-31.

Methodology
Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459