β2-adrenergic receptor activation prevents rodent dopaminergic neurotoxicity by inhibiting microglia via a novel signaling pathway.

b2-Adrenergic Receptor Activation Prevents Rodent Dopaminergic Neurotoxicity by Inhibiting Microglia via a Novel Signaling Pathway

Quinazoline derivative compound (11d) as a novel angiogenesis inhibitor inhibiting VEGFR2 and blocking VEGFR2-mediated Akt/mTOR /p70s6k signaling pathway

Objective(s): We previously reported a series of quinazoline derivatives as vascular-targeting anticancer agents. In this study, we investigated the mechanism underlying the anti-angiogenic activity of the quinazoline derivative compound 11d. Materials and Methods: We examined the effects of quinazoline derivative 11d on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) activation via VEG...

Urocortin modulates inflammatory response and neurotoxicity induced by microglial activation.

Microglia are the major inflammatory cells in the brain. Recent studies have highlighted the reciprocal roles of other brain cells in modulating the microglial inflammatory responses. Urocortin (UCN) is a member of the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family of neuropeptides that function to regulate stress responses. In the present study, we demonstrated that expression of UCN in rat subs...

Exendin-4 protects dopaminergic neurons by inhibition of microglial activation and matrix metalloproteinase-3 expression in an animal model of Parkinson's disease.

Exendin-4 is a naturally occurring more potent and stable analog of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that selectively binds at the GLP-1 receptor. It has been recently demonstrated that GLP-1 receptor stimulation preserves dopaminergic neurons in cellular and rodent models of Parkinson's disease (PD). 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) causes nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurotoxi...

Norepinephrine modulates the motility of resting and activated microglia via different adrenergic receptors.

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), monitor the brain for disturbances of tissue homeostasis by constantly moving their fine processes. Microglia respond to tissue damage through activation of ATP/ADP receptors followed by directional process extension to the damaged area. A common feature of several neurodegenerative diseases is the loss of norepinephrine,...