Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) signaling through its tyrosine kinase receptor ErbB4 is essential for the normal development of the nervous system and has been linked to neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.
Genetic variants of Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) and its neuronal tyrosine kinase receptor ErbB4 are associated with risk for schizophrenia, a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by excitatory/inhibitory imbalance and dopamine (DA) dysfunction.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine kinase receptor (trkB-TK+) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67) mRNA levels have previously been found to be reduced in the prefrontal cortex of patients with schizophrenia.
Using a quantitative RNA-PCR approach tyrosine kinase receptor (trk) C mRNA levels were determined in brain material from the frontal cortex (BA10), temporal cortex (BA20) and cerebellum of control specimen and patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or non-psychotic depression (15 subjects each).