Subjects expressing R377Q,
R377W, R119W and R196H were shown to have an inhibition of
signal transduction of NgR by its oligodendrocyte-bound ligands in
coimmunoprecipitation and ligand binding experiments [6,9]. Genetic
mutations in the NgR gene could therefore be involved in the stabilization
of neuronal wiring in the development of the schizophrenia brain.
Interestingly, R119Wand R196H were found in patients who displayed
predominantly negative symptoms which were strongly resistant to conventional and novel drug treatments [6]. This result suggests that
both R119Wand R196Hmay play a role in affecting the binding interactions
between NgR protein and its ligands or with its co-receptors.