Disturbances of the Wnt signalling pathway in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia

The neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia proposes that interactions between genetic and environmental events occurring during the critical early period of brain development may negatively influence neuronal growth, lamination and orientation, resulting in cytoarchitectural defects. The Wnt signalling pathway is essential for normal embryonic development of the central nervous system. Disturbances of Wnt signalling have been thought to be involved in producing the cytoarchitectural defects observed in schizophrenia. This article reviews current data on the alteration in the Wnt transduction cascade, which may represent an aberrant neurodevelopment in schizophrenia. Firstly, the canonical Wnt signalling cascade is described. Secondly, recently published studies on the potential role of the Wnt pathway in schizophrenia pathology are reviewed. Finally, the results of the latest experimental studies on the influence of antipsychotics on the main protein of the Wnt pathway are outlined.