Progesterone and the spinal cord: good friends in bad times

LABOMBARDA F; GONZALEZ DENISELLE MC; DE NICOLA AF; GONZÁLEZ SL

Buenos Aires

Congreso; III IberoAmerican Congress in NeuroImmunoModulation; 2009

International Society for Neuroimmunomodulation

Progesterone and the spinal cord: Good friends in bad times Labombarda F, González-Deniselle MC, De Nicola AF, González SL. Labombarda F, González-Deniselle MC, De Nicola AF, González SL. Labombarda F, González-Deniselle MC, De Nicola AF, González SL. In the recent years, a growing list of publications point to the value of steroid hormones as an interesting option for treating lesions and diseases of the nervous system. Progesterone (PROG), known for its role in pregnancy, has recently demonstrated neuroprotective and promyelinating effects in both the peripheral and central nervous system, including the injured spinal cord. Previous work from our laboratory has shown that PROG actions in experimental models of spinal neurodegeneration or injury may involve the modulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, a growth factor with important implications in neuronal survival and axonal regeneration. The spinal cord is target for PROG, since neurons and glial cells express the intracellular receptors for this neuroactive steroid. However, the spinal presence of new membrane receptors and the enzymes involved in PROG metabolism to its reduced derivatives, which modulate the activity of neurotransmitter receptors, suggest that PROG actions involve pleiotropic mechanisms. In this presentation we will discuss our recent data uncovering several molecular events that may help to understand the protective and promyelinating actions of PROG and further support the role of this steroid as a promising therapeutic agent for neuroinjury and/or neurodegenerative diseases. In the recent years, a growing list of publications point to the value of steroid hormones as an interesting option for treating lesions and diseases of the nervous system. Progesterone (PROG), known for its role in pregnancy, has recently demonstrated neuroprotective and promyelinating effects in both the peripheral and central nervous system, including the injured spinal cord. Previous work from our laboratory has shown that PROG actions in experimental models of spinal neurodegeneration or injury may involve the modulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, a growth factor with important implications in neuronal survival and axonal regeneration. The spinal cord is target for PROG, since neurons and glial cells express the intracellular receptors for this neuroactive steroid. However, the spinal presence of new membrane receptors and the enzymes involved in PROG metabolism to its reduced derivatives, which modulate the activity of neurotransmitter receptors, suggest that PROG actions involve pleiotropic mechanisms. In this presentation we will discuss our recent data uncovering several molecular events that may help to understand the protective and promyelinating actions of PROG and further support the role of this steroid as a promising therapeutic agent for neuroinjury and/or neurodegenerative diseases. In the recent years, a growing list of publications point to the value of steroid hormones as an interesting option for treating lesions and diseases of the nervous system. Progesterone (PROG), known for its role in pregnancy, has recently demonstrated neuroprotective and promyelinating effects in both the peripheral and central nervous system, including the injured spinal cord. Previous work from our laboratory has shown that PROG actions in experimental models of spinal neurodegeneration or injury may involve the modulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, a growth factor with important implications in neuronal survival and axonal regeneration. The spinal cord is target for PROG, since neurons and glial cells express the intracellular receptors for this neuroactive steroid. However, the spinal presence of new membrane receptors and the enzymes involved in PROG metabolism to its reduced derivatives, which modulate the activity of neurotransmitter receptors, suggest that PROG actions involve pleiotropic mechanisms. In this presentation we will discuss our recent data uncovering several molecular events that may help to understand the protective and promyelinating actions of PROG and further support the role of this steroid as a promising therapeutic agent for neuroinjury and/or neurodegenerative diseases.