title: Pharmacological and clinical implications of MAO-B inhibitors.
abstract: Although the involvement of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) in physiological function is not yet well understood, its inhibitors have been shown to be quite useful in the treatment of various neuropsychiatric disorders. Platelet MAO-B activity has been found to be reduced in several psychiatric disorders, related to substance abuse and associated with different personalities. 1-Deprenyl (selegiline), an archetypical MAO-B inhibitor, alone does not seem to exert an antidepressive effect, however, it may become useful when administered in combination with amine neurotransmitter precursors. MAO-B inhibitors are useful adjunct drugs to 1-DOPA in the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease. Interestingly, 1-deprenyl alone can slow down the progress of otherwise disabled syndromes of Parkinson's disease. It has been proposed that 1-deprenyl may play a role in neuroprotection and neurorescue. MAO-B inhibitors can selectively and dramatically increase the level of beta-phenylethylamine, which has been shown to potentiate dopamine and noradrenaline function in the central nervous system. Several new types of highly selective, reversible and irreversible MAO-B inhibitors have recently been developed. The mechanism(s) of neuroprotective and rescue actions of 1-deprenyl and other MAO-B inhibitors will help to shed some light on our understanding of the neurodegenerative process.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Research Unit, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D010627:Phenethylamines / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D010627:Phenethylamines; C029261:phenethylamine