%0 Journal Article
%T The role of sigma-1 receptors in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric diseases
%A Masatomo Ishikawa
%A Kenji Hashimoto
%J Journal of Receptor, Ligand and Channel Research
%D 2009
%I 
%X Masatomo Ishikawa, Kenji HashimotoDivision of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba, JapanAbstract: The endoplasmic reticulum protein sigma-1 receptors, first regarded as opioid receptors and later confused as the phencyclidine (PCP) binding sites of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, are now confirmed to be independent receptors. They are involved in the modulation of various neurotransmitter systems and have a high affinity for diverse classes of psychotropic drugs. Accumulating evidence suggests that the sigma-1 receptors are implicated in higher-ordered brain functions and play important roles in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorders, and dementia. Recently, sigma-1 receptors have been shown to function at the molecular level as ¡°receptor chaperones.¡± This mechanism may unify the explanation of the role of sigma-1 receptors in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric diseases. With the development of the positron emission tomography (PET) ligand [11C]SA4503, it has become possible to visualize sigma-1 receptors and estimate the sigma-1 receptor occupancy of drugs in the human brain. This approach may provide additional information on the function of sigma-1 receptors. This article reviews the function of sigma-1 receptors and attempts to reinterpret their role in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric diseases based on their new description as ¡°receptor chaperones.¡±Keywords: sigma-1 receptor, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Alzheimer¡¯s disease, positron emission tomography
%U http://www.dovepress.com/the-role-of-sigma-1-receptors-in-the-pathophysiology-of-neuropsychiatr-a3836