Abstract
Peripheral neuropathy, either inherited or acquired, represents a very common disorder for which effective clinical treatments are not available yet. Observations here summarized indicate that neuroactive steroids, such as progesterone, testosterone and their reduced metabolites, might represent a promising therapeutic option. Peripheral nerves are able to synthesize and metabolize neuroactive steroids and are a target for these molecules, since they express classical and non-classical steroid receptors. Neuroactive steroids modulate the expression of key transcription factors for Schwann cell function, regulate Schwann cell proliferation and promote the expression of myelin proteins involved in the maintenance of myelin multilamellar structure, such as myelin protein zero and peripheral myelin protein 22. These actions may result in the protection and regeneration of peripheral nerves affected by different forms of pathological alterations. Indeed, neuroactive steroids are able to counteract biochemical, morphological and functional alterations of peripheral nerves in different experimental models of neuropathy, including the alterations caused by aging, diabetic neuropathy and physical injury. Therefore, neuroactive steroids, pharmacological agents able to increase their local synthesis and synthetic ligands for their receptors have a promising potential for the treatment of different forms of peripheral neuropathy.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 460-469 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Brain Research Reviews |
| Volume | 57 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 14 2008 |
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Keywords
- 5α-reductase
- Progesterone
- Schwann cells
- Sciatic nerve
- Testosterone
- Tetrahydroprogesterone
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)
Cite this
Neuroactive steroids and peripheral neuropathy. / Roglio, Ilaria; Giatti, Silvia; Pesaresi, Marzia; Bianchi, Roberto; Cavaletti, Guido; Lauria, Giuseppe; Garcia-Segura, Luis Miguel; Melcangi, Roberto Cosimo.
In: Brain Research Reviews, Vol. 57, No. 2, 14.03.2008, p. 460-469.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Neuroactive steroids and peripheral neuropathy
AU - Roglio, Ilaria
AU - Giatti, Silvia
AU - Pesaresi, Marzia
AU - Bianchi, Roberto
AU - Cavaletti, Guido
AU - Lauria, Giuseppe
AU - Garcia-Segura, Luis Miguel
AU - Melcangi, Roberto Cosimo
PY - 2008/3/14
Y1 - 2008/3/14
N2 - Peripheral neuropathy, either inherited or acquired, represents a very common disorder for which effective clinical treatments are not available yet. Observations here summarized indicate that neuroactive steroids, such as progesterone, testosterone and their reduced metabolites, might represent a promising therapeutic option. Peripheral nerves are able to synthesize and metabolize neuroactive steroids and are a target for these molecules, since they express classical and non-classical steroid receptors. Neuroactive steroids modulate the expression of key transcription factors for Schwann cell function, regulate Schwann cell proliferation and promote the expression of myelin proteins involved in the maintenance of myelin multilamellar structure, such as myelin protein zero and peripheral myelin protein 22. These actions may result in the protection and regeneration of peripheral nerves affected by different forms of pathological alterations. Indeed, neuroactive steroids are able to counteract biochemical, morphological and functional alterations of peripheral nerves in different experimental models of neuropathy, including the alterations caused by aging, diabetic neuropathy and physical injury. Therefore, neuroactive steroids, pharmacological agents able to increase their local synthesis and synthetic ligands for their receptors have a promising potential for the treatment of different forms of peripheral neuropathy.
AB - Peripheral neuropathy, either inherited or acquired, represents a very common disorder for which effective clinical treatments are not available yet. Observations here summarized indicate that neuroactive steroids, such as progesterone, testosterone and their reduced metabolites, might represent a promising therapeutic option. Peripheral nerves are able to synthesize and metabolize neuroactive steroids and are a target for these molecules, since they express classical and non-classical steroid receptors. Neuroactive steroids modulate the expression of key transcription factors for Schwann cell function, regulate Schwann cell proliferation and promote the expression of myelin proteins involved in the maintenance of myelin multilamellar structure, such as myelin protein zero and peripheral myelin protein 22. These actions may result in the protection and regeneration of peripheral nerves affected by different forms of pathological alterations. Indeed, neuroactive steroids are able to counteract biochemical, morphological and functional alterations of peripheral nerves in different experimental models of neuropathy, including the alterations caused by aging, diabetic neuropathy and physical injury. Therefore, neuroactive steroids, pharmacological agents able to increase their local synthesis and synthetic ligands for their receptors have a promising potential for the treatment of different forms of peripheral neuropathy.
KW - 5α-reductase
KW - Progesterone
KW - Schwann cells
KW - Sciatic nerve
KW - Testosterone
KW - Tetrahydroprogesterone
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U2 - 10.1016/j.brainresrev.2007.04.010
DO - 10.1016/j.brainresrev.2007.04.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 17543391
AN - SCOPUS:40749124836
VL - 57
SP - 460
EP - 469
JO - Brain Research Reviews
JF - Brain Research Reviews
SN - 0165-0173
IS - 2
ER -