VIP-induced Neuroprotection of the Developing Brain

Title: VIP-induced Neuroprotection of the Developing Brain

Volume: 17 Issue: 10

Author(s): Sandrine Passemard, Paulina Sokolowska, Leslie Schwendimann and Pierre Gressens

Affiliation:

Keywords: Neuroprotection, cerebral palsy, plasticity, preterm infant, VPAC receptor, NAP, excitotoxicity, perinatal, multifactorial, ionotropic, phosphoinositide, cytoarchitectonic, astrocytic, murine, dysgeneses, isoleucine, forskolin, calmodulin, heterodimers, endopeptidases, methionine

Abstract: Excitotoxicity is a key molecular mechanism of perinatal brain damage and is associated with cerebral palsy and long term cognitive deficits. VIP induces a potent neuroprotection against perinatal excitotoxic white matter damage. VIP does not prevent the initial appearance of white matter lesion but promotes a secondary repair with axonal regrowth. This plasticity mechanism involves an atypical VPAC2 receptor and BDNF production. Stable VIP agonists mimic VIP effects when given systemically and exhibit a large therapeutic window. Unraveling cellular and molecular targets of VIP effects against perinatal white matter lesions could provide a more general rationale to understand the neuroprotection of the developing white matter against excitotoxic insults.

Cite this article as:

Passemard Sandrine, Sokolowska Paulina, Schwendimann Leslie and Gressens Pierre, VIP-induced Neuroprotection of the Developing Brain, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2011; 17 (10) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161211795589409