title: Glutamate transporter: an unexpected target for some antibiotics.
abstract: Glutamate transporter (GT) plays a major role in the mechanisms of glutamate homeostasis. Can this transporter system be a therapeutic target for glutamate-mediated neurological disorders? In January's edition of Nature, Rothstein et al (2005) reports that the most commonly used class of antibiotics (beta-lactam antibiotics) such as ceftriaxone promoted the expression of GLT1 and demonstrated a functional role in both in vitro and in vivo models of glutamate neurotoxicity. These findings indicate that positive promoters of GT expression may have a unique role in neuroprotection through regulating GT expression. This is also encouraging in search for new pharmacological tools for pain management.
authors.forename: Jianren
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018698:Glutamic Acid