Neuroprotective effects of dantrolene in neurodegenerative disease: Role of inhibition of pathological inflammation.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) refer to a group of diseases in which slow, continuous cell death is the main pathogenic event in the nervous system. Most NDs are characterized by cognitive dysfunction or progressive motor dysfunction. Treatments of NDs mainly target alleviating symptoms, and most NDs do not have disease-modifying drugs. The pathogenesis of NDs involves inflammation and apoptosis mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction. Dantrolene, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, acts as a RyRs antagonist for the treatment of malignant hyperthermia, spasticity, neuroleptic syndrome, ecstasy intoxication and exertional heat stroke with tolerable side effects. Recently, dantrolene has also shown therapeutic effects in some NDs. Its neuroprotective mechanisms include the reduction of excitotoxicity, apoptosis and neuroinflammation. In summary, dantrolene can be considered as a potential therapeutic candidate for NDs.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Declaration of Competing Interest Henry Liu holds the position of Editor-in-Chief for JATM, and was blinded from reviewing or making decisions for the manuscript. Dr. Huafeng Wei is one of the inventors for patents application titled “Intranasal dantrolene for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease” owned by the University of Pennsylvania Trustee in following countries: International (PCTUS2020/040198, 2020), USA (62/868,820, 2019), Europe (20833145.4–1112, 2022), Japan (2021-577376, 2021), China (202080054348.2, 2022), Hong Kong (62022053033.60, 2020), South Korea (10-2022-7003375, 2020), Singapore (11202114347V, 2020), Brazil (BR1120210265970, 2020), Mexico (MX/a/2022/000231, 2022). The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.