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Glutamate-Related Biomarkers in Drug Development for Disorders of the Nervous System Workshop Summary (2011) / Chapter Skim
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4 Treatment Implications of Biomarkers
Pages 27-32

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From page 27...
... TARGET DEVELOPMENT One of the tenets of glutamate dysfunction is that increased extracellular glutamate levels, under conditions of ischemia and trauma, set in motion a cascade of events that lead to intense calcium influx into glutamate neurons. With large participation by astrocytes, calcium influx into post-synaptic glutameteric neurons leads to widespread cell death from excitotoxicity and necrosis (Choi, 1994)
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From page 28...
... That pH drop activates receptors throughout the brain known as acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) , which are proton-gated cation channels widely distributed in peripheral sensory neurons and the CNS.
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From page 29...
... Developing biomarkers of increased or decreased rates of protein synthesis at synaptic terminals have been largely unsuccessful, stated Mark Bear, Picower Professor of Neuroscience at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research on autism has brought to the fore a major challenge for drug development: predicting outcomes for patients with the same diagnosis, but with different subtypes, noted Bear.
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From page 30...
... The concept of peripheral sensitization biomarkers arose from his knowledge of the adverse effects of CNS treatments and his growing understanding of pain pathophysiology. Glutamate is the primary neurotransmitter for sensory neurons carrying pain information from the periphery to the CNS and within the CNS.
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From page 31...
... In a rodent model, the NR2B antagonist ifenprodil reduced the glutamate-evoked masticatory muscle sensory afferent discharge. In a human trial, ketamine reduced TMD pain approximately one hour after a single injection into the masseter muscle (Castrillon et al., 2008)
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Key Terms

  • drug development
  • chronic pain
  • tuberous sclerosis
  • protein synthesis
  • glutamate levels

  • calcium influx
  • exaggerated pain
  • pain syndromes
  • glutamate signaling
  • axonal terminals

  • clinical trials
  • sensory neurons
  • x gene
  • masticatory muscle
  • central sensitization

  • spectrum disorders
  • patient stratification
  • autism spectrum
  • peripheral sensitization
  • cell death

  • afferent discharge
  • nmda receptors
  • x protein
  • glutamate antagonists
  • pain sensitization

  • pain pathophysiology
  • block glutamate
  • glutamate dysfunction
  • glutamate biomarkers
  • peripheral nmda


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