Therapeutic promise and principles: metabotropic glutamate receptors.
For a number of disease entities, oxidative stress becomes a significant factor in the etiology and progression of cell dysfunction and injury. Therapeutic strategies that can identify novel signal transduction pathways to ameliorate the toxic effects of oxidative stress may lead to new avenues of treatment for a spectrum of disorders that include diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and immune system dysfunction. In this respect, metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) may offer exciting prospects for several disorders since these receptors can limit or prevent apoptotic cell injury as well as impact upon cellular development and function. Yet the role of mGluRs is complex in nature and may require specific mGluR modulation for a particular disease entity to maximize clinical efficacy and limit potential disability. Here we discuss the potential clinical translation of mGluRs and highlight the role of novel signal transduction pathways in the metabotropic glutamate system that may be vital for the clinical utility of mGluRs.
Maiese
Kenneth
K
Division of Cellular and Molecular Cerebral Ischemia, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA. kmaiese@med.wayne.edu
Chong
Zhao Zhong
ZZ
Shang
Yan Chen
YC
Hou
Jinling
J
D000818:Animals; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D018698:Glutamic Acid