title: Neurological dysfunctions associated with altered BACE1-dependent Neuregulin-1 signaling.
abstract: Inhibition of BACE1 is being pursued as a therapeutic target to treat patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease because BACE1 is the sole β-secretase that generates β-amyloid peptide. Knowledge regarding other cellular functions of BACE1 is therefore critical for the safe use of BACE1 inhibitors in human patients. Neuregulin-1 (Nrg1) is a BACE1 substrate and BACE1 cleavage of Nrg1 is critical for signaling functions in myelination, remyelination, synaptic plasticity, normal psychiatric behaviors, and maintenance of muscle spindles. This review summarizes the most recent discoveries associated with BACE1-dependent Nrg1 signaling in these areas. This body of knowledge will help to provide guidance for preventing unwanted Nrg1-based side effects following BACE1 inhibition in humans. To initiate its signaling cascade, membrane anchored Neuregulin (Nrg), mainly type I and III β1 Nrg1 isoforms and Nrg3, requires ectodomain shedding. BACE1 is one of such indispensable sheddases to release the functional Nrg signaling fragment. The dependence of Nrg on the cleavage by BACE1 is best manifested by disrupting the critical role of Nrg in the control of axonal myelination, schizophrenic behaviors as well as the formation and maintenance of muscle spindles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Xiangyou
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Qingyuan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Hailong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Riqiang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020890:Neuregulin-1; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C509280:BACE1 protein, human
keywords: BACE1; muscle spindle; myelination; neuregulin-1; remyelination; schizophrenia