Microtubule-targeting agents and neurodegeneration

Zlata Boiarska; Daniele Passarella

doi:10.1016/j.drudis.2020.11.033

Microtubule-targeting agents and neurodegeneration

Drug Discov Today. 2021 Feb;26(2):604-615. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.11.033. Epub 2020 Dec 3.

Authors

Zlata Boiarska¹, Daniele Passarella²

Affiliations

¹ Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy.
² Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy. Electronic address: daniele.passarella@unimi.it.

PMID: 33279455
DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.11.033

Abstract

The association of microtubule (MT) breakdown with neurodegeneration and neurotoxicity has provided an emerging therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases. Tubulin binders are able to modulate MT dynamics and, as a result, are of particular interest both as potential therapeutics and experimental tools used to validate this strategy. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge and recent advancements regarding MT-targeting approaches for neurodegeneration and evaluate the potential application of MT-targeting agents (MTAs) based on available preclinical and clinical data.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Drug Development / methods*
Humans
Microtubules / drug effects*
Microtubules / metabolism
Molecular Targeted Therapy
Neurodegenerative Diseases / drug therapy*
Neurodegenerative Diseases / physiopathology