Cerebrolysin® reduces microglial activation in vivo and in vitro: A potential mechanism of neuroprotection

Abstract

Neurotrophins, such as NGF, BDNF and NT-3 play a regulatory role on the function of microglial cells in vivo and in vitro, and the identification of new compounds with neurotrophic properties is becoming a new strategy for the prevention and/or treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. In this study we describe the use of two different models to demonstrate the ability of Cerebrolysin® to reduce microglial activation. The results of these in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that Cerebrolysin® might exert a neuroimmunotrophic activity reducing the extent of inflammation and accelerated neuronal death under pathological conditions such as those observed in neurodegenerative diseases.