Ureña-Guerrero ME, Castañeda-Cabral JL, Rivera-Cervantes MC, Macias-Velez RJ, Jarero-Basulto JJ, Gudiño-Cabrera G, Beas-Zárate C. Neuroprotective and Neurorestorative Effects of Epo and VEGF: Perspectives for New Therapeutic Approaches to Neurological Diseases.
Curr Pharm Des 2020;
26:1263-1276. [PMID:
31942853 DOI:
10.2174/1381612826666200114104342]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Erythropoietin (Epo) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are two vasoactive molecules with essential trophic effects for brain development. The expression and secretion of both molecules increase in response to neuronal damage and they exert protective and restorative effects, which may also be accompanied by adverse side effects.
OBJECTIVE
We review the most relevant evidence on the neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects of Epo and VEGF in three of the most frequent neurological disorders, namely, stroke, epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease, to develop new therapeutic approaches.
METHODS
Several original scientific manuscripts and reviews that have discussed the evidence in critical way, considering both the beneficial and adverse effects of Epo and VEGF in the selected neurological disorders, were analysed. In addition, throughout this review, we propose several considerations to take into account in the design of therapeutic approaches based on Epo and VEGF signalling.
RESULTS
Although the three selected disorders are triggered by different mechanisms, they evolve through similar processes: excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, neuronal death, glial reactivity and vascular remodelling. Epo and VEGF exert neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects by acting on these processes due to their pleiotropism. In general, the evidence shows that both Epo and VEGF reduce neuronal death but that at the vascular level, their effects are contradictory.
CONCLUSION
Because the Epo and VEGF signalling pathways are connected in several ways, we conclude that more experimental studies, primarily studies designed to thoroughly assess the functional interactions between Epo and VEGF in the brain under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions, are needed.
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