Small-Molecule Theranostic Probes : A Promising Future in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Joint Authors

Aulić, Suzana
Bolognesi, Maria Laura
Legname, Giuseppe

Source

International Journal of Cell Biology

Issue

Vol. 2013, Issue 2013 (31 Dec. 2013), pp.1-19, 19 p.

Publisher

Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Publication Date

2013-11-12

Country of Publication

Egypt

No. of Pages

19

Main Subjects

Biology

Abstract EN

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative illnesses, which include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and scrapie, chronic wasting disease, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy in animals.

They are caused by unconventional infectious agents consisting primarily of misfolded, aggregated, β-sheet-rich isoforms, denoted prions, of the physiological cellular prion protein (PrPC).

Many lines of evidence suggest that prions (PrPSc) act both as a template for this conversion and as a neurotoxic agent causing neuronal dysfunction and cell death.

As such, PrPSc may be considered as both a neuropathological hallmark of the disease and a therapeutic target.

Several diagnostic imaging probes have been developed to monitor cerebral amyloid lesions in patients with neurodegenerative disorders (such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and prion disease).

Examples of these probes are Congo red, thioflavin T, and their derivatives.

We synthesized a series of styryl derivatives, denoted theranostics, and studied their therapeutic and/or diagnostic potentials.

Here we review the salient traits of these small molecules that are able to detect and modulate aggregated forms of several proteins involved in protein misfolding diseases.

We then highlight the importance of further studies for their practical implications in therapy and diagnostics.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Aulić, Suzana& Bolognesi, Maria Laura& Legname, Giuseppe. 2013. Small-Molecule Theranostic Probes : A Promising Future in Neurodegenerative Diseases. International Journal of Cell Biology،Vol. 2013, no. 2013, pp.1-19.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-449836

Modern Language Association (MLA)

Aulić, Suzana…[et al.]. Small-Molecule Theranostic Probes : A Promising Future in Neurodegenerative Diseases. International Journal of Cell Biology No. 2013 (2013), pp.1-19.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-449836

American Medical Association (AMA)

Aulić, Suzana& Bolognesi, Maria Laura& Legname, Giuseppe. Small-Molecule Theranostic Probes : A Promising Future in Neurodegenerative Diseases. International Journal of Cell Biology. 2013. Vol. 2013, no. 2013, pp.1-19.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-449836

Data Type

Journal Articles

Language

English

Notes

Includes bibliographical references

Record ID

BIM-449836