Current and new strategies in therapy of neurodegenerative disorders: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as a model

ABSTRACT

For years researchers have known that free radicals can cause cell degeneration, especially in the brain, so there is a role for the oxidative stress and free radicals in the chronic neurodegenerative disorders. Riluzole is recommended for improving the prognosis of patients suffering from the neurodegenerative disorder, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS], and it thought to be acting as nueroprotective agent by the inhibition of glutamatergic transmission in the CNS. The familial [ALS], has been mapped to chromosome 2q33 and aldehyde oxidise enzyme has been mapped also with the same gene 2q33. So it noteworthy to make a link between Riluzol and aldehyde oxidase and the possible interaction between them in the CNS, which may contribute to the neuroprotective effect of Riluzole by inhibiting ROS production or altering the balance between hydrogen peroxide [H[2]O[2]] and superoxide anion [O[2]]