Neurotransmitter Receptors Targeting Therapies Study

Background of Neurotransmitter Receptors Targeting Therapies Study

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder. In addition to amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques, accumulation of neurofibrillary tau tangles, and infection in the central nervous system, neurotransmitter also has an involvement in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Neurotransmitters are chemical substances endogenously generated from amino acids. They are stored in the synaptic vesicles and released to bind their appropriate receptors that transmit signals between neurons. Acetylcholine (ACh), glutamate, choline, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) are main neurotransmitters involved in the AD pathogenesis. Current neurotransmitter receptors targeting therapies are mainly focusing on the neurotransmitter inhibitors and antagonists of neurotransmitter receptors. Understanding the mechanisms of action (MoAs) in AD associated with neurotransmitters plays an essential role in drug development for AD. Creative Biolabs provides in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo services based on reliable cell and animal models and advanced techniques, allowing researchers to understand the mechanisms of action (MoAs) in AD related to neurotransmitter receptors and explore compounds targeting the neurotransmitter corresponding receptors to delay the course of AD and relieve symptoms.

Neurotransmitter Receptors MoA in AD

ACh is a neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory. The concentration and function of Ach are reduced in patients with AD, as a result of presynaptic cholinergic dysfunction such as loss of cholinergic neurons and reduced acetylcholinesterase activity. Although the ability to synthesize choline is disrupted in AD patients, the function of choline receptors remains normal. Another pathologic neurotransmitter in AD is glutamate. Glutamate can be released by vesicles and transmit neural signals by binding to glutamatergic receptors on postsynaptic neurons, which is responsible for thinking and remembering. NMDA receptor is also essential for learning and memory. Overactivation of NMDA receptors by glutamate will lead to impairment of neurons. The deficiencies in glutamate recycling by astroglia in the synaptic cleft will cause sustained low-level activation of NMDA receptors and disrupt the glutamatergic neurotransmission cycle. In addition, aberrant functioning of histamine, serotonin, and GABA is also involved in AD pathogenesis.

Fig.1 Neurochemical mechanism of glutamatergic signaling and reuptake in patients with Alzheimer's disease. (Francis, 2005)

Creative Biolabs provides a wide range of neurotransmitter receptors targeting therapies study services to satisfy your research and preclinical drug development demands. We provide researchers neurochemistry assays to accurately detect neurotransmitters, which could be used for further neurotransmitter receptor studies and explore therapies targeting the receptors. Please contact us for further details about neurotransmitter receptors targeting therapies study and customized solutions.

Reference

1. Francis, P. The Interplay of Neurotransmitters in Alzheimer's Disease. CNS Spectrums. 2005, 10 (S18), 6-9.