Decreased Neuregulin 1 C-terminal fragment in Brodmann's area 6 of patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) is a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia. A decrease in NRG1-ErbB4 signalling has also been associated with the disease. β-amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme (BACE1) processes type III NRG1 precursor, a major neuregulin variant expressed in the brain, to release NRG1 fragments that trigger signalling events and activation of neurotransmitter receptors. Experimental evidence suggests that muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (CHRM) regulate BACE1 expression. Having recently shown that CHRM1 levels are decreased selectively in frontal cortex regions of a subpopulation of schizophrenic patients (muscarinic receptor deficit schizophrenia, MRDS) we aimed to compare the ..