International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review On the Modulatory Roles of Neuregulins/ErbB Signaling on Synaptic Plasticity Ada Ledonne 1,* and Nicola B. Mercuri 1,2 1 Department of Experimental Neuroscience, Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano, no 64, 00143 Rome, Italy;
[email protected] 2 Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier no 1, 00133 Rome, Italy * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +3906-501703160; Fax: +3906-501703307 Received: 9 December 2019; Accepted: 29 December 2019; Published: 31 December 2019 Abstract: Neuregulins (NRGs) are a family of epidermal growth factor-related proteins, acting on tyrosine kinase receptors of the ErbB family. NRGs play an essential role in the development of the nervous system, since they orchestrate vital functions such as cell differentiation, axonal growth, myelination, and synapse formation. They are also crucially involved in the functioning of adult brain, by directly modulating neuronal excitability, neurotransmission, and synaptic plasticity. Here, we provide a review of the literature documenting the roles of NRGs/ErbB signaling in the modulation of synaptic plasticity, focusing on evidence reported in the hippocampus and midbrain dopamine (DA) nuclei. The emerging picture shows multifaceted roles of NRGs/ErbB receptors, which critically modulate different forms of synaptic plasticity (LTP, LTD, and depotentiation) affecting glutamatergic, GABAergic, and DAergic synapses, by various mechanisms. Further, we discuss