Title:The Cholinergic System: An Emerging Drug Target for Schizophrenia
Volume: 22
Issue: 14
Author(s): Andrew Gibbons and Brian Dean
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Schizophrenia, acetylcholine, cholinesterase inhibitors, muscarinic receptors, nicotinic receptors, positive allosteric modulators.
Abstract: Background: Cognitive deficits are amongst the most socially debilitating and least effectively treated
symptoms of schizophrenia. The cholinergic system is a promising target for the design of novel drugs that can
more effectively treat these symptoms. Methods: We review the literature supporting the dysfunction of the cholinergic
system in schizophrenia, discuss the preclinical and clinical data showing that modulating the cholinergic
system could improve the symptoms of schizophrenia and review the main pharmacological strategies being investigated
to treat cholinergic dysfunction in schizophrenia. Results: Post-mortem and neuroimaging studies suggest
there are widespread reductions in cholinergic receptor signalling in the cortex as well as subcortical regions, such
as the hippocampus and striatum, in individuals with schizophrenia. Potential cholinergic drug targets are being
pursued to increase receptor function. These include inhibiting the activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase to
increase synaptic acetylcholine levels, and increasing the nicotinic receptor and muscarinic receptor activity with agonists or positive allosteric
modulators. Conclusion: Amongst the most promising drug targets for treating schizophrenia are the α7 nicotinic receptor and the
CHRM1 and CHRM4 muscarinic receptors. The recent development of allosteric modulators that selectively target these receptors offers
the potential to more effectively treat the symptoms of schizophrenia.