Monoamine Transporter Pathologies

The monoamine neurotransmitters control a variety of functions including movement, appetite, mood, reward, and memory. The monoamine transporters are responsible for the termination of synaptic signaling by removing neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft. Altered monoaminergic transporter function has been implicated in the pathology of disease states such as depression, anxiety, addiction, autism, Parkinson's disease, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This review considers the mechanism of transporter action and regulation of transporter function. The implications of transporter polymorphisms are also addressed. Finally, a brief overview is presented that highlights important findings as well as existing problems that need to be considered in future studies.