Multiple beneficial effects of melanocortin MC4 receptor agonists in experimental neurodegenerative disorders: Therapeutic perspectives
Open accessAbstract
Melanocortin peptides induce neuroprotection in acute and chronic experimental neurodegenerative conditions. Melanocortins likewise counteract systemic responses to brain injuries. Furthermore, they promote neurogenesis by activating critical signaling pathways. Melanocortin-induced long-lasting improvement in synaptic activity and neurological performance, including learning and memory, sensory-motor orientation and coordinated limb use, has been consistently observed in experimental models of acute and chronic neurodegeneration. Evidence indicates that the neuroprotective and neurogenic effects of melanocortins, as well as the protection against systemic responses to a brain injury, are mediated by brain melanocortin 4 (MC 4) receptors, through an involvement of the vagus nerve. Here we discuss the targets and mechanisms underlying the multiple beneficial effects recently observed in animal models of neurodegeneration. We comment on the potential clinical usefulness of melanocortin MC 4 receptor agonists as neuroprotective and neuroregenerative agents in ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and Alzheimer's disease.
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In models of brain ischaemia and inflammation, α-MSH exhibits strong anti-inflammatory, neurogenic and neuroprotective effects.
“Additionally, in models of brain ischaemia and inflammation, α-MSH exhibits strong anti-inflammatory, neurogenic and neuroprotective effects [65,66,67].”
From Novel Insights into the Protective Properties of ACTH(4-7)PGP (Semax) Peptide at the Transcriptome Level Following Cerebral Ischaemia-Reperfusion in Rats (2020) · cites this paper as [65]
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miR-124: A Promising Therapeutic Target for Central Nervous System Injuries and Diseases
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“In particular, α-MSH, the amino acid sequence of which coincides completely with the site of amino acids 1–13 of ACTH, exhibits noticeable anti-inflammatory, neurogenic, and neuroprotective effects in models of experimental ischemia [5,7].”
Background
- Authors
- Giuliani, D., Ottani, A., Neri, L., Zaffe, D., Grieco, P., Jochem, J., Cavallini, G. M., Catania, A., & Guarini, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (IT)
- University of Naples Federico II (IT)
- Medical University of Silesia (PL)
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Guarini, Salvatore
- ORCID
- Venue
- Progress in Neurobiology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-01
- Volume
- 148
- Pages
- 40-56
- ISSN
- 0301-0082 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2558178881
- Cited by
- 38
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 6
- FWCI
- 0.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- Progress in Neurobiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- IRIS UNIMORE (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca
- Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Modena
- Università Degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emila
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Nerve injury and regeneration
- Keywords
- melanocortin peptides, neuroprotection, neurogenesis, neurodegeneration, vagus nerve, ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's disease, synaptic activity, learning and memory, nerve regeneration
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Neuroprotective Agents, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4
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