Neuregulin andSchizophrenia

Schizophrenia

• Debilitating mental illness affecting 1 % of the general population across the world.

• Onset in adolescent age.

Symptoms

• Positive symptoms– Hallucinations, delusions

• Negative symptoms– Avolition, Apathy

• Disorganization symptoms– Inappropriate social behavior

• Cognitive deficits– Perceptual deficits - Visual, Auditory.– Deficits in memory.– Emotional changes.

Schizophrenia is associated with many alterations in brain structure and function.

Many regional reduction in gray matter.

Thompson et al., , 2001

Achim et al., , 2005

Reduction in brain activation during cognitive tasks

Van der stelt et al., , 2005

Genetics of Schizophrenia

Kirov et al., , 2003

Neuregulin 1 – Linkage in 8p

Stefansson et al., 2002

Harrison et al., 2006

Functions of Neuregulin

Flames et al., 2004

Chih et al., 2004

Michailo et al., 2004

Conclusions

• Evidences so far, show NRG plays a vital role in neurodevelopmental processes.

• Association with Schizophrenia and late onset Alzhimer’s suggest a link between this gene and various diseases of nervous system.

• The role of NRG is still being studied. Further studies are required to identify its mechanisms of action.

Catpa demo….