Use of biomarkers in the discovery of novel anti-schizophrenia drugs.
Schizophrenia is characterized by a diverse symptomatology that often includes positive, cognitive and negative symptoms. Current anti-schizophrenic drugs act at multiple receptors, but little is known about how each of these receptors contributes to their mechanisms of action. Screening of novel anti-schizophrenic drug candidates targeting single receptors will be based on biomarker assays that measure signalling pathways, transcriptional factors, epigenetic mechanisms and synaptic function and translate these effects to behavioural effects in animals and humans. This review discusses current states of the validity of biomarkers in the identification of novel anti-schizophrenic drug candidates.
Mikkelsen
Jens D
JD
Neurobiology Research Unit, University Hospital Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. jens_mikkelsen@dadlnet.dk
Thomsen
Morten S
MS
Hansen
Henrik H
HH
Lichota
Jacek
J
D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries / Q000494:pharmacology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries