Title:Translocator Protein 18-kDa: A Promising Target to Treat Neuroinflammation-
related Degenerative Diseases
Volume: 29
Issue: 28
Author(s): Chiara Tremolanti, Lorenzo Germelli, Elisabetta Barresi, Eleonora Da Pozzo*, Francesca Simorini, Sabrina Castellano, Sabrina Taliani*, Federico Da Settimo, Claudia Martini and Barbara Costa
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Keywords:
Translocator protein 18kDa, TSPO, structure-activity relationship, selective ligands, neuroinflammation, microglia, astrocytes, neurons.
Abstract: In the nervous system, inflammatory responses physiologically occur as defense
mechanisms triggered by damaging events. If improperly regulated, neuroinflammation can
contribute to the development of chronically activated states of glial cells, with the perpetuation
of inflammation and neuronal damage, thus leading to neurological and neurodegenerative
disorders. Interestingly, neuroinflammation is associated with the overexpression of the
mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO) in activated glia. Despite the precise role of
TSPO in the immunomodulatory mechanisms during active disease states is still unclear, it
has emerged as a promising target to promote neuroprotection. Indeed, TSPO ligands have
been shown to exert beneficial effects in counteracting neuroinflammation and neuronal
damage in several in vitro and in vivo models of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular,
the regulation of neurosteroids’ production, cytokine release, metabolism of radical oxidative
species, and cellular bioenergetics appear to be the main cellular events that underlie the
observed effects. The present review aims to illustrate and summarize recent findings on the
potential effect of TSPO ligands against neuroinflammation and related neurodegenerative
mechanisms, taking into consideration some pathologies of the nervous system in which inflammatory
events are crucial for the onset and progression of the disease and attempting to
shed light onto the immunomodulatory effects of TSPO.