A new avenue for treating neuronal diseases: Ceftriaxone, an old antibiotic demonstrating behavioral neuronal effects

Chun-Hwei Tai; Michele Bellesi; An-Chih Chen; Chih-Li Lin; Hsin-Hua Li; Pin-Jiun Lin; Wen-Chieh Liao; Ching-Sui Hung; Rainer K Schwarting; Ying-Jui Ho

doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2019.02.020

A new avenue for treating neuronal diseases: Ceftriaxone, an old antibiotic demonstrating behavioral neuronal effects

Behav Brain Res. 2019 May 17:364:149-156. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.02.020. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10002, Taiwan, ROC.
² Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Universita Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
³ Department of Neurology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 402, Taiwan, ROC.
⁴ Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan, ROC.
⁵ Department of Psychology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan, ROC.
⁶ Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 402, Taiwan, ROC.
⁷ Occupational Safety and Health Office, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, 10581, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: bessyhung@gmail.com.
⁸ Behavioral Neuroscience, Experimental and Biological Psychology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany. Electronic address: schwarti@staff.uni-marburg.de.
⁹ Department of Psychology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: yjho@csmu.edu.tw.

PMID: 30768995
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.02.020

Abstract

Several neurodegenerative disorders, namely Parkinson's disease dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and Alzheimer's disease, share common pathophysiological features, such as (1) cognitive deficits, (2) glutamatergic hyperactivity-related excitotoxicity, and (3) deposition of α-synuclein (α-syn) and β-amyloid (Aβ). Ceftriaxone (CEF) is a well-tested and safe drug that has been used as an antibiotic for several decades. Recent studies have demonstrated the following effects of CEF: (1) increasing glutamate transporter-1 expression and glutamate reuptake and suppressing excitotoxicity, (2) binding well with α-syn and inhibition of α-syn polymerization, (3) modulating expression of genes related to Aβ metabolism, and (4) enhancing neurogenesis and recovery of neuronal density. In addition, our data revealed that CEF ameliorates seizure and abnormal neuronal firing in the brain. These results suggest the potential of CEF in treating neuronal disorders. This paper addresses the effects and pharmacology of CEF.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Ceftriaxone; Dementia with Lewy bodies; Neurodegenerative disorders; Parkinson’s disease dementia.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Alzheimer Disease
Brain / metabolism
Ceftriaxone / pharmacology*
Humans
Lewy Body Disease
Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy
Neurodegenerative Diseases / drug therapy*
Neurogenesis / drug effects
Neurons / metabolism
Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology
Parkinson Disease

Substances

Neuroprotective Agents
Ceftriaxone