The role of Substance P in neurodegenerative diseases

• Main Authors: Seyed Isaac Hashemy, Atefeh Ghahremanloo, Fariba Mohammadi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2020-10-01
• Series: Acta Medica Iranica
• Online Access: https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/view/8280

Tachykinins (TKs) are a family of neuropeptides widely distributed in the human body, especially in the nervous system. TKs have exhibited both neuroprotective and neurodegenerative properties in the central nervous system (CNS) and spinal cord. Also, several studies have shown that substance P (SP), as a pioneering neuropeptide of the TK family, is engaged in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders (NDs), such as Alzheimer disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, a huge body of information available about the level of SP in NDs demonstrates that SP and its receptors might be prognostic or diagnostic factors for NDs. The present review article summarizes the roles of TKs in common neurodegenerative disorders.