title: Signaling pathways in schizophrenia: emerging targets and therapeutic strategies.
abstract: Dopamine D(2) receptor antagonism is a unifying property of all antipsychotic drugs in use for schizophrenia. While often effective at ameliorating psychosis, these drugs are largely ineffective at treating negative and cognitive symptoms. Increasing attention is being focused on the complex genetics of the illness and the signaling pathways implicated in its pathophysiology. We review targeted approaches for pharmacotherapy involving the glutamatergic, GABAergic and cholinergic pathways. We also describe several of the major genetic findings that identify signaling pathways representing potential targets for novel pharmacological intervention. These include genes in the 22q11 locus, DISC1, Neuregulin 1/ErbB4, and components of the Akt/GSK-3 pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Caline S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Karam
authors.forename: Jacob S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ballon
authors.forename: Nancy M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Bivens
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Freyberg
authors.forename: Ragy R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Girgis
authors.forename: José E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lizardi-Ortiz
authors.forename: Sander
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Markx
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lieberman
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Javitch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D065127:Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D065127:Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists