Current research progress in glutamate transporter subtype GLT-1 and its regulated drugs / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

The homeostasis of extracellular glutamate concentration is critically regulated by glutamate transporters(GTs).Malfunction or decreased expression of GTs has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various nervous system diseases.And among the GTs,glutamate transporter 1(GLT-1)plays a critical role as "glutamate pump".Recent research also finds some GLT-1 variants which alternate C-terminal splicings.Altered expression of proteins encoded by splice variants of GLT-1 has been noted in a number of disease states.Maintaining a physiological range of extracellular glutamate through regulating GTs expression or function may improve some pathological conditions.Many drugs are reported that can regulate GTs.For example,ceftriaxone,phencyclidine,citicoline,riluzole,AKT,thrombosin can up-regulate the expression or function of glutamate transporters;etomidate,clozapine,aspartic acid analogs,endothelin can down-regulate the expression or function of glutamate transporters.In this paper,the drugs which effect GTs will be summarized in order to provide a new insight into the drug design and clinical treatment of neurological diseases.