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Current Pharmaceutical Design

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1381-6128
ISSN (Online): 1873-4286

Neuroprotective Mechanisms Mediated by CDK5 Inhibition

Author(s): Gohar Mushtaq, Nigel H. Greig, Firoz Anwar, Fahad A. Al-Abbasi, Mazin A. Zamzami, Hasan A. Al-Talhi and Mohammad A. Kamal

Volume 22, Issue 5, 2016

Page: [527 - 534] Pages: 8

DOI: 10.2174/1381612822666151124235028

Price: $65

Abstract

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) is a proline-directed serine/threonine kinase belonging to the family of cyclin-dependent kinases. In addition to maintaining the neuronal architecture, CDK5 plays an important role in the regulation of synaptic plasticity, neurotransmitter release, neuron migration and neurite outgrowth. Although various reports have shown links between neurodegeneration and deregulation of cyclin-dependent kinases, the specific role of CDK5 inhibition in causing neuroprotection in cases of neuronal insult or in neurodegenerative diseases is not wellunderstood. This article discusses current evidence for the involvement of CDK5 deregulation in neurodegenerative disorders and neurodegeneration associated with stroke through various mechanisms. These include upregulation of cyclin D1 and overactivation of CDK5 mediated neuronal cell death pathways, aberrant hyperphosphorylation of human tau proteins and/or neurofilament proteins, formation of neurofibrillary lesions, excitotoxicity, cytoskeletal disruption, motor neuron death (due to abnormally high levels of CDK5/p25) and colchicine- induced apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons. A better understanding of the role of CDK5 inhibition in neuroprotective mechanisms will help scientists and researchers to develop selective, safe and efficacious pharmacological inhibitors of CDK5 for therapeutic use against human neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and neuronal loss associated with stroke.

Keywords: CDK5 inhibitors, neuroprotection, neurodegeneration, β-amyloid, Alzheimer’s disease, tau hyperphosphorylation, ischemic stroke, synaptic, excitotoxicity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.


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