Glutamate in the immune system: Glutamate receptors in immune cells, potent effects, endogenous production and involvement in disease

Glutamate, an amino acid, is the principal excitatory neurotransmitter within the vertebrate nervous system. Glutamate is involved in most aspects of normal brain function including cognition, memory and learning, and also plays major roles in the development of the central nervous system, including synapse induction and elimination, and cell migration, differentiation and death. Glutamate further plays a signaling role in peripheral organs and tissues, such as the heart, kidney, intestine, lungs, muscles, liver, ovary, testis, bone, pancreas and the adrenal, pituitary and pineal glands.