Perspective and Directions for Future Research on Trace Amines and Neurological Disorders

Neurological disorders include neurotraumatic diseases (stroke, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury), neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer, Parkinson, and Huntington diseases), and neuropsychiatric diseases (depression, autism, and hyperactivity disorders). The dysregulation of the inflammatory network and oxidative imbalance along with mitochondrial dysfunction and accumulation of abnormal, aggregated proteins may play a major role in the neurodegeneration in the above-mentioned neurological disorders. Other factors in the regulation of neurodegeneration may include inherited genetic abnormalities, abnormal immune system, and environmental factors. Endogenous trace amines are structurally related to classic monoaminergic neurotransmitters, found at low levels in the mammalian brain. Trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) belong to a group of G-protein-coupled receptors. TAAR1 is expressed in various brain regions, and modulates monoamine systems, representing a promising therapeutic target for a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, relatively little information is available about TAAR1 representing a promising therapeutic target for neurotraumatic and neurodegenerative diseases.