Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 13, Issue 18, 2007

Neuroprotection: Non-Neural Cells Regulate Neuronal Functions The term “Neuroprotection” normally denotes rescue of nerve cells. However, the non-neural cells, i.e., glial cells and endothelial cells are equally important for brain function in normal and in pathological conditions [1,2]. The number of glial cells and endothelial cells far exceeds the number of neural cells in the CNS [2,3]. In spite of this fact, most attention is s Read More

Neural precursors that are found in the subventricular zone and dentate gyrus of the adult brain might be useful in cell replacement therapies for neurological disorders. The development of pharmacological drugs that would increase production of new neurons would be facilitated by identification of the endogenous or natural molecular regulators of adult neurogenesis in vivo. This review discusses known endogenous Read More

Several neurotrophic factors are known to induce neuroprotection in traumatic injuries to the central nervous system (CNS). However, many neurotrophins are unable to attenuate cell death following CNS injuries. New data generated in our laboratory show that a suitable combination of neurotrophic factors may enhance the neuroprotective efficacy of neurotrophins on cell and tissue injury and improve sensory motor fu Read More

The c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) belong to the subfamily of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). JNK is an important transducing enzyme that is involved in many facets of cellular regulation including gene expression, cell proliferation and programmed cell death. The activation of JNK pathways is critical for naturally occurring cell death during development as well as for pathological death associated with neurodegene Read More

Shut-down of translation is a global stress response required to block synthesis of proteins that cannot be correctly folded and thereby reduce the work load of the folding machinery, a primary target of the pathological process triggered by severe forms of stress. The short-term control of protein synthesis involves alterations in the activity of initiation factors mediated through changes in their phosphorylation states, the al Read More

The psychostimulants, morphine and methamphetamine are well known drugs of abuse that induce brain pathology and/or neurodegeneration resulting in a huge burden on our society. The possible mechanisms of psychostimulants induced neuropathology and neurodegeneration are still not well known. The drugs of abuse results in profound hyperthermia and widespread alterations in neurochemical metabolism in the ce Read More

Agents suppressing microglial activation are attracting attention as candidate drugs for neuroprotection in Parkinson 's disease (PD): While different mechanisms including environmental toxins and genetic factors initiate neuronal damage in the substantia nigra and striatum in PD, there is unequivocal evidence that activation of neuroinflammatory cells aggravates this neurodegenerative process. It was shown that following Read More