The anti-Parkinson drug, rasagiline, prevents apoptotic DNA damage induced by peroxynitrite in human dopaminergic neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells
by
Maruyama W, Takahashi T, Youdim M, Naoi M.
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Metabolism,
Department of Basic Gerontology,
National Institute for Longevity Sciences,
Obu, Aichi, Japan.
J Neural Transm. 2002 Apr;109(4):467-81

ABSTRACT

Clinical trials for treatment of Parkinson's disease suggest that (-)deprenyl (selegiline), an inhibitor of type B monoamine oxidase, may slow the disease progression. However, the mechanism underlying protection of nigral dopamine neurons by selegiline remains an enigma. Recently, rasagiline, (R)(+)-N-propargyl-1-aminoindan, was reported to be neuroprotective by in vivo and in vitro experiments, which is another selective irreversible inhibitor of type B monoamine oxidase and not metabolized into amphetamine-like derivatives as in the case of selegiline. In this paper, the mechanism of the neuroprotection was examined using human dopaminergic neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells against apoptosis induced by peroxynitrite generated from SIN-1. After treatment with SIN-1, the apoptotic DNA damage in the cells was quantified by a single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay and by staining with Hoechst 33342. Change in mitochondrial membrane potential, Deltapsim, was measured by use of a fluorescent indicator, JC-1. Rasagiline reduced apoptosis with much more potency than selegiline, and the protection required 20 min pre-incubation before SIN-1 treatment. The protection by rasagiline was proved to be due to stabilization of mitochondrial membrane potential against the collapse induced by SIN-1, whereas rasagiline did not scavenge peroxynitrite directly. The studies on structure-activity relationship showed that a propargylamine group and a hydrophobic group with an adequate intermediate space were required for the protection. These results suggest that rasagiline may protect declining neurons through its anti-apoptotic activity in neurodegenerative diseases.

MAOIs
Rasagiline
Neuroprotection
Rasagiline: structure
MAO-b inhibitors/PD
Anti-apoptotic activity
Molecular mechanisms
Rasagiline pharmacology
Induction of pro-survival genes
Rasagiline and the mitochondria
Antioxidant strategies against aging
Anti-Alzheimer/anti-Parkinson's drugs
Rasagiline versus selegiline metabolites
Rasagiline/ anti-apoptotic bcl-2 gene family
Dual AChE and MAO inhibitors and Alzheimer's
Rasagiline v selegiline: neuronal survival effects
Rasagiline (Agilect) in early Parkinson's disease

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