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Deng Y, Ma L, Du Z, Ma H, Xia Y, Ping L, Chen Z, Zhang Y. The Notch1/Hes1 pathway regulates Neuregulin 1/ErbB4 and participates in microglial activation in rats with VPA-induced autism. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 131:110947. [PMID: 38242426 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.110947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
The core clinical characteristics of autism, which is a neurodevelopmental disease, involve repetitive behavior and impaired social interactions. Studies have shown that the Notch and Neuregulin1 (NRG1) signaling pathways are abnormally activated in autism, but the mechanism by which these two signaling pathways interact to contribute to the progression of autism has not been determined. Our results suggest that the levels of Notch1, Hes1, NRG1, and phosphorylated ErbB4 in the cerebellum (CB), hippocampus (HC), and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were increased in rats with valproic acid (VPA)-induced autism compared to those in the Con group. However, 3, 5-difluorophenyl-L-alanyl-L-2-phenylglycine tert-butyl (DAPT), which is a Notch pathway inhibitor, ameliorated autism-like behavioral abnormalities and decreased the protein levels of NRG1 and phosphorylated ErbB4 in rats with VPA-induced autism; these results demonstrated that the Notch1/Hes1 pathway could participate in the pathogenesis of autism by regulating the NRG1/ErbB4 signaling pathway. Studies have shown that the Notch pathway regulates microglial differentiation and activation during the onset of neurological disorders and that microglia affect autism-like behavior via synaptic pruning. Therefore, we hypothesized that the Notch1/Hes1 pathway could regulate the NRG1/ErbB4 pathway and thus participate in the development of autism by regulating microglial functions. The present study showed that AG1478, which is an ErbB4 inhibitor, ameliorated the autism-like behaviors in a VPA-induced autism rat model, reduced abnormal microglial activation, and decreased NRG1 and Iba-1 colocalization; however, AG1478 did not alter Notch1/Hes1 activity. These results demonstrated that Notch1/Hes1 may participate in the microglial activation in autism by regulating NRG1/ErbB4, revealing a new mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Deng
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China
| | - Liping Ma
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China
| | - Ziwei Du
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China
| | - Huixin Ma
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China
| | - Yuxi Xia
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China
| | - Liran Ping
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China
| | - Zhaoxing Chen
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China
| | - Yinghua Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy & Histoembryology, School of Basic Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China; Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, China.
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Zhao X, Huang G, Xie Z, Mo Y, Zhu H, Gao Y, Han Y, Tang W. Effects of Anti-Seizure Medication on Neuregulin-1 Gene and Protein in Patients with First-Episode Focal Epilepsy. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2024; 20:837-844. [PMID: 38618155 PMCID: PMC11012762 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s438942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) appears to play a role in the pathogenesis of several neuropsychiatric disorders, including epilepsy. We conducted a study to investigate the effect of anti-seizure medication on NRG-1 mRNA and NRG-1 protein levels in patients with first-episode focal epilepsy. Methods The levels of NRG-1 mRNA isoforms (type I, II, III, and IV) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 39 healthy controls, 39 first-episode focal epilepsy patients before anti-seizure medication (ASM) therapy and four weeks after administration of ASM were measured by RT-qPCR, and the levels of NRG-1 protein in the serum of samples of each group were determined using ELISA. In addition the relationship between efficacy, NRG-1 mRNA expression, and NRG-1 protein expression was analyzed. Results The levels of NRG-1 mRNA progressively increased in patients with first-episode focal epilepsy treated with ASM and were distinctly different from those before medication, but remained lower than in healthy controls (all P < 0.001). Before and after drug administration, NRG-1 protein levels were substantially higher in epileptic patients than in healthy controls, and no significant changes were detected with prolonged follow-up (P < 0.001). Patients with epilepsy who utilized ASM were able to control seizures with an overall efficacy of 97.4%. There was a negative correlation between NRG-1 mRNA levels and efficacy: as NRG-1 mRNA levels increased, seizures reduced (all P < 0.05). Conclusion Our research indicated that NRG-1 may play a role in the pathophysiology of epilepsy. NRG-1 mRNA may provide ideas for the discovery of novel epilepsy therapeutic markers and therapeutic targets for novel ASM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Baotou, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Science and Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guijiang Huang
- Department of Science and Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhenrong Xie
- Department of Science and Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaxiong Mo
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongxuan Zhu
- Department of Science and Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yajie Gao
- Department of Science and Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanbing Han
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Tang
- Department of Science and Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
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Hampel H, Caruso G, Nisticò R, Piccioni G, Mercuri NB, Giorgi FS, Ferrarelli F, Lemercier P, Caraci F, Lista S, Vergallo A. Biological Mechanism-based Neurology and Psychiatry: A BACE1/2 and Downstream Pathway Model. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:31-53. [PMID: 34852743 PMCID: PMC10193755 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666211201095701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In oncology, comprehensive omics and functional enrichment studies have led to an extensive profiling of (epi)genetic and neurobiological alterations that can be mapped onto a single tumor's clinical phenotype and divergent clinical phenotypes expressing common pathophysiological pathways. Consequently, molecular pathway-based therapeutic interventions for different cancer typologies, namely tumor type- and site-agnostic treatments, have been developed, encouraging the real-world implementation of a paradigm shift in medicine. Given the breakthrough nature of the new-generation translational research and drug development in oncology, there is an increasing rationale to transfertilize this blueprint to other medical fields, including psychiatry and neurology. In order to illustrate the emerging paradigm shift in neuroscience, we provide a state-of-the-art review of translational studies on the β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme (BACE) and its most studied downstream effector, neuregulin, which are molecular orchestrators of distinct biological pathways involved in several neurological and psychiatric diseases. This body of data aligns with the evidence of a shared genetic/biological architecture among Alzheimer's disease, schizoaffective disorder, and autism spectrum disorders. To facilitate a forward-looking discussion about a potential first step towards the adoption of biological pathway-based, clinical symptom-agnostic, categorization models in clinical neurology and psychiatry for precision medicine solutions, we engage in a speculative intellectual exercise gravitating around BACE-related science, which is used as a paradigmatic case here. We draw a perspective whereby pathway-based therapeutic strategies could be catalyzed by highthroughput techniques embedded in systems-scaled biology, neuroscience, and pharmacology approaches that will help overcome the constraints of traditional descriptive clinical symptom and syndrome-focused constructs in neurology and psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Hampel
- Sorbonne University, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris, France
| | | | - Robert Nisticò
- Laboratory of Pharmacology of Synaptic Plasticity, EBRI Rita Levi-Montalcini Foundation, Rome, Italy
- School of Pharmacy, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Gaia Piccioni
- Laboratory of Pharmacology of Synaptic Plasticity, EBRI Rita Levi-Montalcini Foundation, Rome, Italy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V.Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola B. Mercuri
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Sean Giorgi
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Ferrarelli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Pablo Lemercier
- Sorbonne University, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Filippo Caraci
- Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Troina, Italy
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Simone Lista
- Sorbonne University, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris, France
- Memory Resources and Research Center (CMRR), Neurology Department, Gui de Chauliac University Hospital, Montpellier, France
| | - Andrea Vergallo
- Sorbonne University, Alzheimer Precision Medicine (APM), AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris, France
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Elevated peripheral Neuregulin-1 protein levels in non-medicated focal epilepsy patients. J Clin Neurosci 2022; 102:1-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2022.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Astorkia M, Lachman HM, Zheng D. Characterization of cell-cell communication in autistic brains with single-cell transcriptomes. J Neurodev Disord 2022; 14:29. [PMID: 35501678 PMCID: PMC9059394 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-022-09441-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder, affecting 1–2% of children. Studies have revealed genetic and cellular abnormalities in the brains of affected individuals, leading to both regional and distal cell communication deficits. Methods Recent application of single-cell technologies, especially single-cell transcriptomics, has significantly expanded our understanding of brain cell heterogeneity and further demonstrated that multiple cell types and brain layers or regions are perturbed in autism. The underlying high-dimensional single-cell data provides opportunities for multilevel computational analysis that collectively can better deconvolute the molecular and cellular events altered in autism. Here, we apply advanced computation and pattern recognition approaches on single-cell RNA-seq data to infer and compare inter-cell-type signaling communications in autism brains and controls. Results Our results indicate that at a global level, there are cell-cell communication differences in autism in comparison with controls, largely involving neurons as both signaling senders and receivers, but glia also contribute to the communication disruption. Although the magnitude of changes is moderate, we find that excitatory and inhibitor neurons are involved in multiple intercellular signaling that exhibits increased strengths in autism, such as NRXN and CNTN signaling. Not all genes in the intercellular signaling pathways show differential expression, but genes in the affected pathways are enriched for axon guidance, synapse organization, neuron migration, and other critical cellular functions. Furthermore, those genes are highly connected to and enriched for genes previously associated with autism risks. Conclusions Overall, our proof-of-principle computational study using single-cell data uncovers key intercellular signaling pathways that are potentially disrupted in the autism brains, suggesting that more studies examining cross-cell type effects can be valuable for understanding autism pathogenesis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s11689-022-09441-1.
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Ledonne A, Mercuri NB. Insights on the Functional Interaction between Group 1 Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors (mGluRI) and ErbB Receptors. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21217913. [PMID: 33114459 PMCID: PMC7662933 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well-appreciated that phosphorylation is an essential post-translational mechanism of regulation for several proteins, including group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRI), mGluR1, and mGluR5 subtypes. While contributions of various serine/threonine protein kinases on mGluRI modulation have been recognized, the functional role of tyrosine kinases (TKs) is less acknowledged. Here, while describing current evidence supporting that mGluRI are targets of TKs, we mainly focus on the modulatory roles of the ErbB tyrosine kinases receptors—activated by the neurotrophic factors neuregulins (NRGs)—on mGluRI function. Available evidence suggests that mGluRI activity is tightly dependent on ErbB signaling, and that ErbB’s modulation profoundly influences mGluRI-dependent effects on neurotransmission, neuronal excitability, synaptic plasticity, and learning and memory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ada Ledonne
- Department of Experimental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-50170-3160
| | - Nicola B. Mercuri
- Department of Experimental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Department of Systems Medicine, Università di Roma “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy;
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Zhang Z, Li Y, He F, Cui Y, Zheng Y, Li R. Sex differences in circulating neuregulin1-β1 and β-secretase 1 expression in childhood-onset schizophrenia. Compr Psychiatry 2020; 100:152176. [PMID: 32430144 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2020.152176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Early-onset schizophrenia is a severe and rare form of schizophrenia that is clinically and neurobiologically continuous with the adult form of schizophrenia. Neuregulin1 (NRG1)-mediated signaling is crucial for early neurodevelopment, which exerts its function by limited β-secretase 1 (BACE1) proteolysis processing. However, circulating neuregulin1-β1 (NRG1-β1), an isoform of NRG1, and its cleavage enzyme BACE1 have not been studied in early-onset patients with schizophrenia. METHODS In this study, we collected plasma and clinical information from 71 young patients (7 ≤ age years ≤20) with schizophrenia and 53 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Immunoassay was used to test levels of circulating NRG1-β1 and BACE1 expression. We further analyzed the relationship of disease-onset age and gender with NRG1-β1 and BACE1 levels. RESULTS We found that circulating plasma levels of NRG1-β1 were significantly decreased in young patients with early-onset schizophrenia. In males with childhood onset schizophrenia (COS), NRG1-β1 was reduced and was inversely correlated with positive symptom of PANSS; moreover, these male patients with higher plasma BACE1 levels showed more severe general symptoms of PANSS and defective social functioning; whereas, no aforementioned results were found in adolescent-onset schizophrenia (AOS). Notably, young female patients with COS and AOS had no significant change in NRG1-β1 and BACE1, which demonstrated a sex-dependent effect in early-onset schizophrenia. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that decreased levels of NRG1-β1 and its cleavage enzyme BACE1 contribute to increased risk of etiology of schizophrenia. Synthetic biomarkers may have clinical applications for the early diagnosis of male COS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengrong Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Yuhong Li
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Fan He
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Yonghua Cui
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Yi Zheng
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China.
| | - Rena Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China; Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
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Boateng E, deKay JT, Peterson SM, Boles J, Pinnette N, Sorcher MW, Robich MP, Sawyer DB, Ryzhov S. High ErbB3 activating activity in human blood is not due to circulating neuregulin-1 beta. Life Sci 2020; 251:117634. [PMID: 32251632 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Neuregulin-1β (NRG-1) is a membrane-bound or secreted growth and differentiation factor that mediates its action by binding to ErbB receptors. Circulating levels of NRG-1 are characterized by large inter-individual variability with the range of absolute values covering two orders of magnitude, from hundreds to tens of thousands of picograms per milliliter of blood. NRG-1 signaling via ErbB receptors contributes to the cell survival and downregulation of the inflammatory response. A higher level of circulating NRG-1 may indicate increased shedding of membrane-bound NRG-1, which in turn can contribute to better protection against cardiovascular stress or injury. However, it is unknown whether circulating NRG-1 can induce activation of ErbB receptors. In the current study, we performed an analysis of circulating NRG-1 functional activity using a cell-based ELISA measuring phosphorylation of ErbB3 induced by blood plasma obtained from healthy donors. We found high levels of ErbB3 activating activity in human plasma. No correlations were found between the levels of circulating NRG-1 and plasma ErbB3 activating activity. To determine the direct effect of circulating NRG-1, we incubated plasma with neutralizing antibody, which prevented the stimulatory effect of recombinant NRG-1 on activation of ErbB3. No effect of the neutralizing antibody was found on plasma-induced phosphorylation of ErbB3. We also found that a significant portion of circulating NRG-1 is comprised of full-length NRG-1 associated with large extracellular vesicles. Our results demonstrate that circulating NRG-1 does not contribute to plasma-induced ErbB3 activating activity and emphasizes the importance of functional testing of NRG-1 proteins in biological samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Boateng
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Joanne T deKay
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Sarah M Peterson
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME, United States of America; IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME, United States of America
| | - Jacob Boles
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME, United States of America
| | - Nathan Pinnette
- University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States of America
| | - Mary W Sorcher
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, United States of America; Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States of America
| | - Michael P Robich
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME, United States of America; Maine Medical Center, Cardiovascular Institute, Portland, ME, United States of America
| | - Douglas B Sawyer
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME, United States of America; Maine Medical Center, Cardiovascular Institute, Portland, ME, United States of America
| | - Sergey Ryzhov
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME, United States of America.
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Ledonne A, Mercuri NB. On the Modulatory Roles of Neuregulins/ErbB Signaling on Synaptic Plasticity. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 21:ijms21010275. [PMID: 31906113 PMCID: PMC6981567 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuregulins (NRGs) are a family of epidermal growth factor-related proteins, acting on tyrosine kinase receptors of the ErbB family. NRGs play an essential role in the development of the nervous system, since they orchestrate vital functions such as cell differentiation, axonal growth, myelination, and synapse formation. They are also crucially involved in the functioning of adult brain, by directly modulating neuronal excitability, neurotransmission, and synaptic plasticity. Here, we provide a review of the literature documenting the roles of NRGs/ErbB signaling in the modulation of synaptic plasticity, focusing on evidence reported in the hippocampus and midbrain dopamine (DA) nuclei. The emerging picture shows multifaceted roles of NRGs/ErbB receptors, which critically modulate different forms of synaptic plasticity (LTP, LTD, and depotentiation) affecting glutamatergic, GABAergic, and DAergic synapses, by various mechanisms. Further, we discuss the relevance of NRGs/ErbB-dependent synaptic plasticity in the control of brain processes, like learning and memory and the known involvement of NRGs/ErbB signaling in the modulation of synaptic plasticity in brain’s pathological conditions. Current evidence points to a central role of NRGs/ErbB receptors in controlling glutamatergic LTP/LTD and GABAergic LTD at hippocampal CA3–CA1 synapses, as well as glutamatergic LTD in midbrain DA neurons, thus supporting that NRGs/ErbB signaling is essential for proper brain functions, cognitive processes, and complex behaviors. This suggests that dysregulated NRGs/ErbB-dependent synaptic plasticity might contribute to mechanisms underlying different neurological and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ada Ledonne
- Department of Experimental Neuroscience, Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano, no 64, 00143 Rome, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +3906-501703160; Fax: +3906-501703307
| | - Nicola B. Mercuri
- Department of Experimental Neuroscience, Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano, no 64, 00143 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier no 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
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