Title:Prostaglandins in the Inflamed Central Nervous System: Potential Therapeutic Targets
Volume: 25
Issue: 13
Author(s): Chynna-Loren Sheremeta, Sai Yarlagadda, Mark L. Smythe and Peter G. Noakes*
Affiliation:
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of
Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of
Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
Keywords:
Arachidonic acid, neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, microglia, prostaglandins, NSAIDs, central nervous system disorders.
Abstract: The global burden of neurological disorders is evident, yet there remains limited efficacious
therapeutics for their treatment. There is a growing recognition of the role of inflammation
in diseases of the central nervous system (CNS); among the numerous inflammatory mediators involved,
prostaglandins play a crucial role. Prostaglandins are small lipid mediators derived from
arachidonic acid via multi-enzymatic pathways. The actions of prostaglandins are varied, with
each prostaglandin having a specific role in maintaining homeostasis. In the CNS, prostaglandins
can have neuroprotective or neurotoxic properties depending on their specific G-protein receptor.
These G-protein receptors have varying subfamilies, tissue distribution, and signal transduction
cascades. Further studies into the impact of prostaglandins in CNS-based diseases may contribute
to the clarification of their actions, hopefully leading to the development of efficacious therapeutic
strategies. This review focuses on the roles played by prostaglandins in neural degeneration, with
a focus on Alzheimer’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in both
preclinical and clinical settings. We further discuss current prostaglandin-related agonists and antagonists
concerning suggestions for their use as future therapeutics.