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The CRF System as a Therapeutic Target for Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Jeff Sanders1, Charles Nemeroff2
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
|October 9, 2016
Summary
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) signaling is a promising target for treating neuropsychiatric disorders. While CRF1 receptor antagonists showed limited success, the complex CRF system offers future therapeutic avenues.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Major neuropsychiatric disorders are severe and inadequately treated with current methods.
- Novel therapeutic strategies targeting distinct mechanisms are needed.
- Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) signaling is implicated in psychiatric conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review alterations in the CRF system in psychiatric conditions.
- To examine the role of CRF receptors in relevant neural circuits.
- To describe clinical trials of CRF1 receptor antagonists.
Main Methods:
- Review of preclinical and clinical data on CRF system alterations.
- Analysis of studies on CRF receptor functions in specific brain circuits.
- Summary of conducted clinical trials for CRF1 receptor antagonists.
Main Results:
- The CRF system is altered in several psychiatric disorders.
- CRF receptors play distinct roles in neural circuits relevant to these disorders.
- Clinical trials of CRF1 receptor antagonists have yielded limited therapeutic success to date.
Conclusions:
- Despite limited success of current antagonists, the CRF system remains a significant area for research.
- The complexity of the CRF system suggests numerous future directions for understanding its role in neuropsychiatric disorders.
- Further investigation into the CRF system may lead to innovative treatments for devastating psychiatric illnesses.
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