title: Pramipexole prevents neurotoxicity induced by oligomers of beta-amyloid.
abstract: Here we demonstrate that pramipexole, an antiparkinsonian dopamine receptor agonist drug, exerts neuroprotective effects against beta-amyloid neurotoxicity. Using a specific protocol to test individually oligomers, fibrils, or unaggregated amyloid beta-peptide, we found pramipexole able to protect cells against oligomers and fibrils. Unaggregated amyloid beta-peptide was found unable to cause cell death. Fibrils and oligomers were also found to produce elevated amount of free radicals, and this effect was prevented by pramipexole. We propose pramipexole may become in the future a coadjuvant in the treatment of neuropathologies, besides Parkinson's disease, where amyloid beta-peptide-mediated oxidative injury exerts a relevant role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25124 Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Uberti
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Olivari
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrari-Toninelli
authors.forename: PierLuigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Canonico
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Memo
mesh_terms: D000682:Amyloid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000633:toxicity; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000633:toxicity*; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000633:toxicity*; D000077487:Pramipexole; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D005609:Free Radicals; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42); D000077487:Pramipexole