Description
Rasagiline is an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) that is used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Rasagiline may also exhibit effects on MAO-A, as actions on that enzyme are likely responsible for the ability of rasagiline to increase levels of Bcl-2, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Rasagiline also displays neuroprotective activity, inhibiting mitochondrial membrane permeability, preventing caspase- and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.
References
Naoi M, Maruyama W, Inaba-Hasegawa K. Revelation in the neuroprotective functions of rasagiline and selegiline: the induction of distinct genes by different mechanisms. Expert Rev Neurother. 2013 Jun;13(6):671-84. PMID: 23739004.
Naoi M, Maruyama W, Yi H. Rasagiline prevents apoptosis induced by PK11195, a ligand of the outer membrane translocator protein (18 kDa), in SH-SY5Y cells through suppression of cytochrome c release from mitochondria. J Neural Transm. 2013 Nov;120(11):1539-51. PMID: 23681678.
Inaba-Hasegawa K, Akao Y, Maruyama W, et al. Type A monoamine oxidase is associated with induction of neuroprotective Bcl-2 by rasagiline, an inhibitor of type B monoamine oxidase. J Neural Transm. 2012 Apr;119(4):405-14. PMID: 22065207.
Weinreb O, Amit T, Bar-Am O, et al. Induction of neurotrophic factors GDNF and BDNF associated with the mechanism of neurorescue action of rasagiline and ladostigil: new insights and implications for therapy. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Dec;1122:155-68. PMID: 18077571.
