NMDA receptors in nervous system diseases

NMDA receptor (NMDAR) dysfunction has emerged as a common theme in several major nervous system disorders, including ischemic brain injury, chronic neurodegenerative diseases, pain, depression and schizophrenia. Either hyperactivity or hypofunction of NMDARs could contribute to disease pathophysiolo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuropharmacology 2013-11, Vol.74, p.69-75
Main Authors: Zhou, Qiang, Sheng, Morgan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brain injury
Central Nervous System Diseases - physiopathology
Glutamate
Humans
Models, Neurological
Neurodegeneration
Protein Subunits - physiology
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate - physiology
Synaptic plasticity
Synaptic transmission
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Summary:NMDA receptor (NMDAR) dysfunction has emerged as a common theme in several major nervous system disorders, including ischemic brain injury, chronic neurodegenerative diseases, pain, depression and schizophrenia. Either hyperactivity or hypofunction of NMDARs could contribute to disease pathophysiology. It is likely that distinct subtypes of NMDARs (as defined by subunit composition and/or subsynaptic location) are differentially involved in central nervous system diseases. Here we focus on a few examples of nervous system diseases where the contribution of NMDARs is relatively well characterized and discuss the implications for potential treatment of these illnesses. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled ‘Glutamate Receptor-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity’. •NMDAR dysfunction as a common theme in nervous system disorders.•Hyperactivity or hypofunction of NMDARs could contribute to disease pathophysiology.•Excitotoxicity and influence on inhibition likely mediate NMDAR contribution.•Subtypes of NMDARs (subunit and/or localization) may be differentially involved.
ISSN:0028-3908
1873-7064
DOI:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.03.030