Cell Biology of BDNF and its Relevance to Schizophrenia

摘要: BDNF is a key regulator of synaptic plasticity and hence thought to be uniquely important for various cognitive functions. While correlations schizophrenia with polymorphisms in the gene changes mRNA levels have been reported, specific links remain established. Cell biology studies may provide clues as how signalling impacts aetiology pathogenesis: (1) Val-Met polymorphism pro-domain affects activity-dependent secretion short-term, hippocampus-mediated episodic memory. (2) pro-BDNF mBDNF, by interacting their respective p75(NTR) TrkB receptors, facilitate long-term depression (LTD) potentiation (LTP), two common forms working opposing directions. (3) transcription controlled four promoters, which drive expression BDNF-encoding transcripts different brain regions, cell types subcellular compartments (dendrites, body, etc.), each regulated genetic environmental factors. A role early- late-phase LTP short- long-term, hippocampal-dependent memory has firmly Extending these other areas help us better understand altered could contribute intermediate phenotypes associated schizophrenia.