Erythropoietin as a possible neuroprotective agent in patients with schizophrenia
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1
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia
It is estimated that about 1% of the world population has Schizophrenia. Recently, even without consensus among researchers, Schizophrenia has been defined as a progressive neurodevelopmental disorder, a disease with variable progression and altered brain development. Similarly to other neurodegenerative disorders, Schizophrenia is characterized by increased cell apoptosis, glutamate excitotoxicity and oxidative stress processes. Potential protective molecules shall include neurosteroids, and antipsychotic agents that have been successfully used in diseases with similar characteristics such as Alzheimer´s Disease or Parkinson´s Syndrome. For example, erythropoietin (EPO), a hematopoietic growth factor synthesized in the liver and in the brain by astrocytes and neurons has been extensively studied as a promising neuroprotective agent. At the cellular level, it is known that EPO binds to its specific receptor, EPOR, activating a signaling cascade associated with anti-apoptotic factors such as bcl-2 and augmented expression of superoxide dismutase, in which these molecules might be trigger protective responses in the brain. In this context, understanding the mechanisms of action at the cellular and molecular level and the effects of this molecule in patients with neurodegenerative diseases will allow to establish future perspectives on the use of this cytokinin as a neuroprotective agent in patients with Schizophrenia.
Keywords:
Schizophrenia,
Erythropoietin,
Astrocytes,
Neurons,
Neuroprotection
Conference:
Latin-American School on glial cells in the diseased brain (IBRO), Bogotá, Colombia, 13 Jul - 17 Jul, 2015.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Neurodevelopment
Citation:
Henao-Parra
D,
Gonzalez
J and
Barreto
G
(2015). Erythropoietin as a possible neuroprotective agent in patients with schizophrenia.
Conference Abstract:
Latin-American School on glial cells in the diseased brain (IBRO).
doi: 10.3389/conf.fncel.2015.35.00026
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Received:
23 Feb 2015;
Published Online:
11 Jun 2015.
*
Correspondence:
Prof. George E. Barreto, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia, gesbarreto@gmail.com