Role of ionotropic glutamate receptors in neurodegenerative and other disorders

Abstract

Disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) are amongst the most complex disease states and lead to some of the most devastating conditions found in medicine today. It is well established that both genetic and epigenetic factors influence the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. More recently a growing body of evidence suggests that changes in neurotransmitter systems may underlie the pathogenic mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Excitatory amino acids (EAA) are known to play key roles in neurotransmission, neuromodulation, and neurotoxicity. EAA receptors are classified into two major subdivisions, ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). L-Glu-gated ion channels, more commonly known as (iGluRs), are the primary mediators of fast excitatory synaptic transmission between neurons in the mammalian CNS. Evidence suggests that the iGluR receptor systems are involved in a number of pathophysiology conditions. This chapter will detail the current state of knowledge regarding the involvement of iGluRs in neurodegenerative and other disorders.