title: G protein-coupled receptors in major psychiatric disorders.
abstract: Although the molecular mechanisms underlying psychiatric illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia remain incompletely understood, there is increasing clinical, pharmacologic, and genetic evidence that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play critical roles in these disorders and their treatments. This perspectives paper reviews and synthesizes the available data. Dysfunction of multiple neurotransmitter and neuropeptide GPCRs in frontal cortex and limbic-related regions, such as the hippocampus, hypothalamus and brainstem, likely underlies the complex clinical picture that includes cognitive, perceptual, affective and motoric symptoms. The future development of novel agents targeting GPCR signaling cascades remains an exciting prospect for patients refractory to existing therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Pathophysiology, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, HHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. catapanol@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Catapano
authors.forename: Husseini K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Manji
mesh_terms: D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled