Current Neurogenic and Neuroprotective Strategies to Prevent and Treat Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Disorders.

I M Carvalho, P B Coelho, P C Costa, C S Marques, R S Oliveira, D C Ferreira

Journal: Neuromolecular medicine 2016;17(4):404-22

PMID: 26374113

Abstract

The adult central nervous system is commonly known to have a very limited regenerative capacity. The presence of functional stem cells in the brain can therefore be seen as a paradox, since in other organs these are known to counterbalance cell loss derived from pathological conditions. This fact has therefore raised the possibility to stimulate neural stem cell differentiation and proliferation or survival by either stem cell replacement therapy or direct administration of neurotrophic factors or other proneurogenic molecules, which in turn has also originated regenerative medicine for the treatment of otherwise incurable neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders that take a huge toll on society. This may be facilitated by the fact that many of these disorders converge on similar pathophysiological pathways: excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial failure, excessive intracellular calcium and apoptosis. This review will therefore focus on the most promising achievements in promoting neuroprotection and neuroregeneration reported to date.

Address: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.; Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Praça 9 de Abril, 349, 4249-004, Porto, Portugal.; Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1007/s12017-015-8369-3

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MeSH Terms: Adult, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Antidepressive Agents, Antioxidants, Brain, Brain Tissue Transplantation, Curcumin, Embryonic Stem Cells, Fetal Tissue Transplantation, Humans, Hyperbaric Oxygenation, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Mental Disorders, Nerve Growth Factors, Neural Stem Cells, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Neuronal Plasticity, Neuropeptides, Tretinoin