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Glucocorticoid hedgehog agonists in neurogenesis
Jiangbo Wang1, Larry S Barak, Robert A Mook
1Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Vitamins and Hormones
|December 1, 2011
Summary
Certain glucocorticoids, unlike typical ones, stimulate stem cell growth and enhance neurogenesis. This finding is significant for understanding drug effects on brain development, especially in children.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Neurogenesis, the creation of new neurons, declines with age and is impaired by glucocorticoids.
- Glucocorticoids are widely used clinically, raising concerns about their impact on neurogenesis, particularly in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of specific glucocorticoids on neurogenesis.
- To explore the interaction of select glucocorticoids with the hedgehog pathway receptor Smoothened.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent findings on glucocorticoid pharmacology.
- Analysis of glucocorticoid binding to the Smoothened receptor.
- Assessment of the impact of specific glucocorticoids on stem cell growth and neurogenesis.
Main Results:
- A select group of glucocorticoids (halcinonide, fluticasone propionate, clobetasol propionate, fluocinonide) bind to the Smoothened receptor.
- Unlike typical glucocorticoids (e.g., dexamethasone), these compounds stimulate stem cell growth.
- This stimulation leads to enhanced neurogenesis.
Conclusions:
- Certain FDA-approved glucocorticoids possess a unique mechanism of action, promoting neurogenesis.
- These findings have significant implications for the clinical use of glucocorticoids, especially in children, and suggest potential therapeutic applications.
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