1Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry 2011 Dec 35: 1965-8
PMID21888942
TitleNo genetic association between SLC7A10 and Japanese patients with schizophrenia.
AbstractDisrupted glutamatergic neurotransmission may be a pathophysiological feature in the brains from patients with schizophrenia, and glutamatergic amino acids including D-serine have been found to be involved in pathophysiology. Endogenous and exogenous D-serine have shown potential as biological markers for the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and especially as a therapeutic strategy in treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). This is the first study investigating whether SLC7A10, a d-serine transporter gene, is associated with schizophrenia in Japanese patients. We investigated the association between schizophrenia in Japanese patients with SLC7A10 using six tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Results failed to show any association between Japanese schizophrenia and each individual SNP or with two-, three-, or four-window haplotype analyses. We also investigated whether SLC7A10 contributes to TRS in Japanese participants. Results showed no association. In conclusion, SLC7A10 had no apparent degree of association with schizophrenia as a candidate susceptibility gene in the disease per se.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia
2J. Neurochem. 2014 Apr 129: 275-83
PMID24266811
TitleIn vitro Characterization of a small molecule inhibitor of the alanine serine cysteine transporter -1 (SLC7A10).
AbstractNMDA receptor hypofunction is hypothesized to contribute to cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia. Since direct activation of NMDA receptors is associated with serious adverse effects, modulation of the NMDA co-agonists, glycine or D-serine, represents a viable alternative therapeutic approach. Indeed, clinical trials with glycine and D-serine have shown positive results, although concerns over toxicity related to the high-doses required for efficacy remain. Synaptic concentrations of D-serine and glycine are regulated by the amino acid transporter alanine serine cysteine transporter-1 (asc-1). Inhibition of asc-1 would increase synaptic D-serine and possibly glycine, eliminating the need for high-dose systemic D-serine or glycine treatment. In this manuscript, we characterize Compound 1 (BMS-466442), the first known small molecule inhibitor of asc-1. Compound 1 selectively inhibited asc-1 mediated D-serine uptake with nanomolar potency in multiple cellular systems. Moreover, Compound 1 inhibited asc-1 but was not a competitive substrate for this transporter. Compound 1 is the first reported selective inhibitor of the asc-1 transporter and may provide a new path for the development of asc-1 inhibitors for the treatment of schizophrenia.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia