title: Physiological Roles of Non-Neuronal NMDA Receptors.
abstract: Glutamate serves as the dominant central nervous system (CNS) excitatory neurotransmitter, in part by activating N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). While the structure, function, and distribution of neuronal NMDARs have been extensively elucidated, NMDARs are also expressed across a wide spectrum of non-neuronal cells, including central and peripheral glial cells, endothelium, kidney, bone, pancreas, and others. These receptors are poorly understood compared to neuronal receptors, but there is a developing consensus that they have distinct structural and functional properties when activated by glutamate, NMDAR co-agonists, and in some cases by metabolites of tryptophan and methionine. It is also clear that non-neuronal NMDARs may participate in an array of physiological and pathophysiological processes, including but not limited to bone deposition, wound healing, insulin secretion, blood-brain barrier integrity, and myelination. These developing lines of evidence are stimulating exploration of non-neuronal NMDARs as a therapeutic target in several disorders.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Program, Kleysen Institute for Advanced Medicine, Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre, 710 William Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0Z3, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB R3E 0W3 Canada.
authors.forename: Adam D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Hogan-Cann
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Program, Kleysen Institute for Advanced Medicine, Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre, 710 William Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0Z3, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB R3E 0W3 Canada. Electronic address: chris.anderson@umanitoba.ca.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000819:agonists / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D018698:Glutamic Acid
keywords: NMDA receptors; glial cells; glutamate; kynurenine pathway; memantine; quinolinic acid