Abstract
L-Glutamate (L-Glu) is the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the Central Nervous System (CNS), where it regulates cellular and synaptic activity, neuronal plasticity, cell survival and other relevant functions. Glutamatergic neurotransmission is complex and involves both ionotropic (ligand-gated ion channels; iGluRs) and metabotropic receptors (G-protein coupled receptors). Recent evidence suggests that glutamatergic receptors are also expressed by immune cells, regulating the degree of cell activation. In this review we primarily focus on mGluRs and their role in the crosstalk between the central nervous and immune systems during neuroinflammation.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
MeSH terms
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Allosteric Regulation / drug effects
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Animals
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Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / drug therapy*
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Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / immunology
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Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / metabolism
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Central Nervous System / drug effects
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Central Nervous System / immunology
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Central Nervous System / metabolism
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Humans
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Immune System / drug effects
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Immune System / metabolism
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Molecular Targeted Therapy*
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Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy
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Multiple Sclerosis / immunology
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Multiple Sclerosis / metabolism
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / agonists
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
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Neuritis / drug therapy
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Neuritis / immunology
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Neuritis / metabolism
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Neuroimmunomodulation / drug effects*
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Neurons / drug effects*
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Neurons / immunology
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Neurons / metabolism
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Protein Isoforms / agonists
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Protein Isoforms / antagonists & inhibitors
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Protein Isoforms / metabolism
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Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / agonists
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Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / antagonists & inhibitors
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Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / metabolism*
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Synaptic Transmission / drug effects*
Substances
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Protein Isoforms
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Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate