An overview of investigational antiapoptotic drugs with potential application for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
BACKGROUND
The increase in life expectancy in developed countries has given rise to several emerging social problems. Of particular note is the dramatic rise in the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases. Given this new social scenario, there is a need to identify therapeutic strategies to delay the advance of these pathologies, for which no effective treatment is currently available.


METHODS
The present review discusses some of the drugs that are now under development with antiapoptotic activity or currently on the market that may have a potential application for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, we also comment on potential compounds such as resveratrol and melatonin. Despite the lack of information from clinical trials on these two compounds, they are attracting considerable attention because of their natural origin and antioxidant and antiapoptotic action. Furthermore, they do not show toxicity in humans. In addition, we discuss the potential application of several compounds, such as NMDA antagonists, JNK inhibitors and GSK-3 inhibitors, for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.


RESULTS
This article will review recent developments in the field of apoptosis inhibitors, which might provide future tools for the treatment of the neurodegenerative diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
The treatment of neurodegenerative diseases is a major challenge in medicine. This is partly because the incidence of these disorders is expected to rise in the coming years. New developments in the field of apoptosis inhibitors may provide future tools for the treatment of the aforementioned neurodegenerative diseases.
Camins
Antoni
A
Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. camins@ub.edu
Sureda
Francesc Xavier
FX
Junyent
Felix
F
Verdaguer
Ester
E
Folch
Jaume
J
Beas-Zarate
Carlos
C
Pallas
Merce
M
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015195:Drug Design; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology
D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013267:Stilbenes; D008550:Melatonin; D000077185:Resveratrol