Neurosteroid vitamin D system as a nontraditional drug target in neuropsychopharmacology.
Vitamin D is becoming increasingly recognized as a nontraditional drug target for different brain pathologies. Although widely known for their role in calcium metabolism, vitamin D and its receptor have been linked to several brain disorders, including cognitive decline, epilepsy, affective disorders, and schizophrenia. Here we discuss mounting evidence, and parallel recent clinical and animal behavioral, genetic and pharmacological data to emphasize the emerging role of the neurosteroid vitamin D system in brain function.
Stewart
Adam
A
Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Tulane University Medical School, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
Wong
Keith
K
Cachat
Jonathan
J
Elegante
Marco
M
Gilder
Tom
T
Mohnot
Sopan
S
Wu
Nadine
N
Minasyan
Anna
A
Tuohimaa
Pentti
P
Kalueff
Allan V
AV
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*
D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D