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Corneal Confocal Microscopy: A Novel Non-invasive Technique to Quantify Small Fibre Pathology in Peripheral Neuropathies
Published on: January 3, 2011
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Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Changes in Cytoskeleton
Alessio Malacrida1, Cristina Meregalli2, Virginia Rodriguez-Menendez3
1School of Medicine and Surgery, Experimental Neurology Unit and Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, MB, Italy. alessio.malacrida@unimib.it.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|May 12, 2019
Summary
Chemotherapy drugs cause peripheral neurotoxicity by altering neuron cytoskeleton. This review highlights the critical interactions between cytoskeletal networks and associated proteins, crucial for neuron health.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Peripheral neurotoxicity is a common side effect of various chemotherapy drugs, including anti-tubulin agents, platinum compounds, proteasome inhibitors, and thalidomide.
- This neurotoxicity is characterized by morphological changes in neurons, primarily attributed to cytoskeleton modifications and the "dying back" degeneration of sensory neuron terminals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the fundamental role of the crosstalk among the three main cytoskeletal subsystems (microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules) in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity.
- To investigate pivotal cytoskeleton-associated proteins affected by these chemotherapeutic agents.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on studies investigating chemotherapy-induced alterations in neuronal cytoskeleton.
- Analysis of research on microtubule organization, fast axonal transport, and effects on microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and associated proteins.
Main Results:
- Chemotherapy drugs induce peripheral neurotoxicity via cytoskeleton modifications, leading to "dying back" degeneration of sensory neuron distal terminals.
- While microtubule alterations and axonal transport defects are well-studied, the impact of chemotherapy on microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and associated proteins is less understood.
Conclusions:
- The cytoskeleton plays a critical role in neuron structure and function, and its perturbation by chemotherapy underlies peripheral neurotoxicity.
- Further research into the interplay of all cytoskeletal components and associated proteins is essential for understanding and potentially mitigating chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity.
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