Prostaglandin D2 signaling mediated by the CRTH2 receptor is involved in MK-801-induced cognitive dysfunction

• Genetic deletion of CRTH2 suppressed MK-801-induced cognitive dysfunction.
• Inhibition of CRTH2 by ramatroban suppressed MK-801-induced cognitive dysfunction.
• Inhibition of COX-1 by SC-560 suppressed MK-801-induced cognitive dysfunction.
• MK-801-induced increase in c-Fos expression in the PVN was abolished in CRTH2−/− mice.
• PGD2-CRTH2 signaling is involved in MK-801-induced cognitive dysfunction.

Chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on T helper type 2 cells (CRTH2), which is a second receptor for prostaglandin (PG) D2, is involved in inflammatory responses in peripheral tissue; however, its role in cognitive function remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that CRTH2 is involved in cognitive function using a well-established animal model of cognitive dysfunction induced by MK-801, an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist. Genetic deletion and pharmacological inhibition of CRTH2 suppressed MK-801-induced cognitive dysfunction. Pharmacological inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1, a rate-limiting enzyme in PG synthesis, also suppressed MK-801-induced cognitive dysfunction. Moreover, an MK-801-induced increase in c-Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) was abolished in the CRTH2-deficient mice. Together, these results suggest that PGD2-CRTH2 signaling is involved in both MK-801-induced cognitive dysfunction and neuronal activity regulation in the PVN. Furthermore, genetic association studies suggest that CRTH2 is weakly associated with cognitive function in humans. Our study provides evidence that PGD2-CRTH2 signaling is involved in cognitive function and may represent a potential therapeutic target for cognitive dysfunction in patients with psychiatric disorders.