Neuropharmacology

Biography

Biography: Kjell Fuxe

Abstract

The biological principle of formation of homo and heteroreceptor complexes with allosteric receptor-receptor interactions including GPCR-GPCR, GPCR-Ion Channel Receptor and GPCR-RTK heteroreceptor complexes appears to be accepted. This takes place through direct physical interactions through homomerization or heteromerization involving also sets of plasma membrane-associated adapter proteins and can include e.g., ion channels and transmitter transporters. The heteromerization alters receptor protomer recognition, signaling and trafficking and thus their pharmacology and function. One emerging new concept in molecular neuropharmacology is that a dysfunction or disruption of allosteric receptor-receptor interactions with formation of novel heteroreceptor complexes contributes to disease preogression in the CNS including addiction. They form major integrative centers of signaling in the CNS and play an important part in learning and memory and are proposed to form molecular engrams crucial for long-term memory. The heteroreceptor complexes are new targets for neurotherapeutics in the CNS giving us a new field in molecular neuroscience. The demonstration of multiple D2 heteroreceptor complexes in ventral and dorsal striatum including A2A-D2, NTS1-D2, 5-HT2A-D2 and oxytocinR-D2 heteroreceptor complexes opened up a promised land for drug development in Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia and drug addiction. Understanding these D2 heterocomplexes and their dysfunction in these diseases leads to new strategies for their treatment, avoiding side-effects and optimizing combined treatments. This development includes heterobivalent drugs to selectively target each heterodimer. Also, the discovery of many 5-HT1A heteroreceptor complexes, like the FGFR1-5-HT1A heterocomplex, of high dynamics opens up new understanding of the molecular basis of neuroplasticity and its relevance for depression.