Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder of unknown aetiology. Progressive motor weakness and bulbar dysfunction lead to premature death, usually from respiratory failure. To date, riluzole is the only disease-modifying drug approved for the treatment of ALS, but this has only a minor impact on the clinical outcome. The clinical development of new drugs for ALS is entirely dependent on the understanding of the aetiology and pathophysiology of the disease, which is still far from being fully elucidated. ALS is a multisystem disorder and can be viewed as the consequence of a complex neurodegenerative process involving neuron-glia interactions. Excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, cytoskeletal defects and apoptosis are all putative mechanisms which seem to operate in ALS and might be amenable of pharmacological intervention. Since the pathogenesis of ALS seems to involve multiple factors, future treatments may target different molecular pathways by a combined multi-drug therapy.
Keywords: als, neuroprotection, clinical trials, excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, apoptosis
Current Neuropharmacology
Title: Possible Neuroprotective Strategies in ALS
Volume: 2 Issue: 3
Author(s): Simone Beretta, Laura Brighina and Carlo Ferrarese
Affiliation:
Keywords: als, neuroprotection, clinical trials, excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, apoptosis
Abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder of unknown aetiology. Progressive motor weakness and bulbar dysfunction lead to premature death, usually from respiratory failure. To date, riluzole is the only disease-modifying drug approved for the treatment of ALS, but this has only a minor impact on the clinical outcome. The clinical development of new drugs for ALS is entirely dependent on the understanding of the aetiology and pathophysiology of the disease, which is still far from being fully elucidated. ALS is a multisystem disorder and can be viewed as the consequence of a complex neurodegenerative process involving neuron-glia interactions. Excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, cytoskeletal defects and apoptosis are all putative mechanisms which seem to operate in ALS and might be amenable of pharmacological intervention. Since the pathogenesis of ALS seems to involve multiple factors, future treatments may target different molecular pathways by a combined multi-drug therapy.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Beretta Simone, Brighina Laura and Ferrarese Carlo, Possible Neuroprotective Strategies in ALS, Current Neuropharmacology 2004; 2 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570159043359684
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570159043359684 |
Print ISSN 1570-159X |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-6190 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Targeted Therapy Towards Cancer-A Perspective
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Effects of Synthetic Peptides on the Inflammatory Response and their Therapeutic Potential
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry The Pharmacokinetics and Toxicology of Aluminum in the Brain
Current Inorganic Chemistry (Discontinued) Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes
Current Pharmaceutical Design Progress in Multiple Sclerosis Genetics
Current Genomics The NOX1/4 Inhibitor GKT136901 as Selective and Direct Scavenger of Peroxynitrite
Current Medicinal Chemistry Magnetic Materials for the Selective Analysis of Peptide and Protein Biomarkers
Current Medicinal Chemistry Potential Control of Multiple Sclerosis by Cannabis and the Endocannabinoid System
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets The Role of Mitochondrial Function in Glutamate-Dependent Metabolism in Neuronal Cells
Current Pharmaceutical Design Morphofunctional Aspects of the Blood-Brain Barrier
Current Drug Metabolism Relevance of Bioassay of Biologically Active Substances (BAS) with Geroprotective Properties in the Model of the Nematode <i>Caenorhabditis Elegans</i> in <i>In Vivo</i> Experiments
Current Aging Science DNA Secondary Structure at Chromosomal Fragile Sites in Human Disease
Current Genomics Tandem Repeat Peptide Strategy for the Design of Neurotrophic Factor Mimetics
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Dental Stem Cell Patents
Recent Patents on DNA & Gene Sequences Meet Our Editorial Board Member
Current Aging Science Transthyretin Deposition in Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy
Current Medicinal Chemistry Editorial [Hot Topic: Galectin-1 as an Essential Factor in Nervous System (Guest Editor: Hidenori Horie)]
Current Drug Targets Designing Multi-Targeted Therapeutics for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Structural Properties of the NMDA Receptor and the Design of Neuroprotective Therapies
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Identification of Inflammatory, Metabolic, and Cell Survival Pathways Contributing to Cerebral Small Vessel Disease by Postmortem Gene Expression Microarray
Current Neurovascular Research