ErbB receptors are a family of tyrosine kinase receptors encoded by the erbB gene. These receptors commence signaling pathways such as the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and inositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways and have an important role in the control of cell growth and survival¹. Neuregulins are a family of EGF-like factors that are produced from alternative RNA splicing of the same gene. Through their interaction with ErbB receptors, Neuregulins regulate normal developmental processes, plasticity, and oncogenesis².

Neuregulin-1 is one of the four known proteins of the Neuregulin family and can be found in many organs including the heart, breast, peripheral and central nervous system. Neuregulin-1 is encoded by a gene located on chromosome 8p13 which produces more than 15 different isoforms of the same protein. All isoforms contain a core EGF domain encoded by exon E130 but other elements of the protein vary. Most NRG1 isoforms are synthesized as transmembrane proproteins which undergo proteolytic cleavage processes³.

Due to its important function in the central and peripheral nervous system as well as in other organs NRG1 has been implicated in a variety of pathologies. The NRG1 gene is suspected as a schizophrenia susceptibility gene. Mice with a mutated NRG1 exhibit elevated activity in open field and abnormal sensorimotor gating which correspond with schizophrenic like behavior in humans. These affects are reversed using anti-psychotic drugs⁴. In addition, Activation of NRG1 was found to improve cardiac survival and function in a rat and canine model of dilated and ischemic hearts⁵.