cells Review The Role of G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) and Calcium Signaling in Schizophrenia. Focus on GPCRs Activated by Neurotransmitters and Chemokines Tomasz Boczek 1 , Joanna Mackiewicz 1 , Marta Sobolczyk 1 , Julia Wawrzyniak 1, Malwina Lisek 1, Bozena Ferenc 1, Feng Guo 2 and Ludmila Zylinska 1,* 1 Department of Molecular Neurochemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lodz, 92215 Lodz, Poland;
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[email protected] Abstract: Schizophrenia is a common debilitating disease characterized by continuous or relapsing episodes of psychosis. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying this psychiatric illness remain incompletely understood, a growing body of clinical, pharmacological, and genetic evidence suggests that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play a critical role in disease development, progression, and treatment. This pivotal role is further highlighted by the fact that GPCRs are the most common Citation: Boczek, T.; Mackiewicz, J.; targets for antipsychotic drugs. The GPCRs activation evokes slow synaptic transmission through 2+ Sobolczyk, M.; Wawrzyniak, J.; Lisek, several downstream pathways, many of them engaging intracellular Ca mobilization. Dysfunctions M.; Ferenc, B.; Guo, F.; Zylinska, L. of the neurotransmitter systems involving the action of GPCRs in the frontal and limbic-related The Role of G Protein-Coupled regions are likely to underly the complex picture that includes the whole spectrum of positive Receptors (GPCRs) and Calcium and negative schizophrenia symptoms.