Potential therapeutic drugs and methods for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Curr Med Chem. 2014;21(31):3583-93. doi: 10.2174/0929867321666140601162710.

Abstract

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by damage of motoneurons leading to paralysis state and long term disability. Riluzole is currently the only FDA-approved drug for the treatment of ALS. The proposed mechanisms of ALS include glutamate excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, protein aggregation, SOD1 accumulations, and neuronal death. In this review, we discuss potential biomarkers for the identification of patients with ALS. We further emphasize potential therapy involving the uses of neurotrophic factors such as IGFI, GDNF, VEGF, ADNF-9, colivelin and angiogenin in the treatment of ALS. Moreover, we described several existing drugs such as talampanel, ceftriaxone, pramipexole, dexpramipexole and arimoclomol potential compounds for the treatment of ALS. Interestingly, the uses of stem cell therapy and immunotherapy are promising for the treatment of ALS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / drug therapy
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / therapy*
  • Animals
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Nerve Growth Factors / therapeutic use
  • Riluzole / therapeutic use
  • Stem Cell Transplantation

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Biomarkers
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Riluzole