Metabotropic glutamate receptors: beyond the regulation of synaptic transmission.
Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors are G-protein coupled receptors activated by glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter of the CNS. A growing body of evidence suggests that the function of mGlu receptors is not restricted to the regulation of synaptic transmission. mGlu receptors are expressed in a variety of peripheral cells, including inter alia hepatocytes, pancreatic cells, osteoblasts and immune cells. Within the immunological synapses, mGlu receptors expressed by T cells might contribute to the vast array of signals generated by the antigen-presenting cells. mGlu receptors are also found in embryonic and neural stem cells. This suggests their involvement in the pathophysiology of brain tumors, which likely originates from cancer stem cells similar to neural stem cells. Ligands of mGlu3 and mGlu4 receptors are potential candidates for the experimental treatment of malignant gliomas and medulloblastomas, respectively.
Nicoletti
Ferdinando
F
Department of Human Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy. ferdinandonicoletti@hotmail.com
Battaglia
Giuseppe
G
Storto
Marianna
M
Ngomba
Richard T
RT
Iacovelli
Luisa
L
Arcella
Antonietta
A
Gradini
Roberto
R
Sale
Patrizio
P
Rampello
Liborio
L
De Vita
Teresa
T
Di Marco
Roberto
R
Melchiorri
Daniela
D
Bruno
Valeria
V
D000818:Animals; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D018698:Glutamic Acid