Neuroprotective mechanism: pathways and molecular targets for neural cell preservation
Mechanism category | Specific action | Molecular targets/effects | Neuroprotective outcome | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Antioxidant defense | Direct ROS/RNS scavenging | O2, OH, ONOO−, H2O2 | Prevents oxidative damage to neurons and glial cells | [25] |
Antioxidant signaling | Nrf2/ARE pathway activation | HO-1, NQO1, γ-GCS upregulation | Enhanced cellular antioxidant capacity | [26] |
Mitochondrial protection | Complex I-IV activity enhancement | Electron transport chain efficiency | Improved neuronal energy metabolism | [27] |
Membrane stabilization | Phospholipid organization | Membrane fluidity and integrity | Enhanced synaptic function and plasticity | [28] |
Anti-inflammatory | Microglial activation suppression | TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 reduction | Decreased neuroinflammation | [29] |
Protein aggregation | Amyloid-β fibril prevention | Direct binding to Aβ monomers | Reduced amyloid plaque formation | [30] |
Protein homeostasis | α-Synuclein aggregation inhibition | α-Syn oligomer disruption | Prevention of Lewy body formation | [31] |
Apoptosis control | Bcl-2/Bax ratio modulation | Caspase cascade regulation | Reduced neuronal death | [32] |
Autophagy regulation | mTOR pathway modulation | LC3-II, p62 regulation | Enhanced cellular waste clearance | [33] |
Metal ion homeostasis | Iron/Copper chelation | Metal-induced oxidation prevention | Protected neural tissue integrity | [34] |
Synaptic function | BDNF expression enhancement | TrkB signaling activation | Improved neural plasticity | [35] |
Protein quality control | Heat shock response activation | HSP70, HSP90 induction | Enhanced protein folding capacity | [36] |
Blood-brain barrier | Tight junction protection | Occludin/claudin expression | Maintained BBB integrity | [37] |
Glial support | Astrocyte function modulation | GFAP regulation | Enhanced neuronal support | [38] |
Axonal transport | Microtubule stabilization | Tau phosphorylation reduction | Preserved axonal function | [39] |
DNA protection | PARP-1 modulation | DNA repair enhancement | Maintained genomic stability | [40] |
Calcium homeostasis | Ca2+ channel regulation | Intracellular calcium balance | Protected synaptic transmission | [41] |
Mitochondrial biogenesis | PGC-1α activation | Enhanced mitochondrial function | Improved cellular energy status | [42] |
Neurotransmitter balance | MAO inhibition | Dopamine/serotonin regulation | Enhanced neurotransmission | [43] |
ARE: antioxidant response elements; Aβ: amyloid-beta; BBB: blood-brain barrier; BCL-2: B-cell lymphoma 2; BDNF: brain-derived neurotrophic factor; γ-GCS: gamma-glutamyl cysteine synthetase; GFAP: glial fibrillary acidic protein; HO-1: heme oxygenase 1; HSP: heat shock proteins; IL-1β: interleukin-1β; LC3-II: LC3-phosphatidylethanolamine conjugate; MAO: monoamine oxidase; mTOR: mammalian target of rapamycin; Nrf2: nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2; NQO1: quinone oxidoreductase 1; ONOO−: peroxynitrite; PARP-1: poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1; PGC-1α: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha; RNS: reactive nitrogen species; ROS: reactive oxygen species; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-alpha; TrkB: tropomyosin receptor kinase B
All authors thank the Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), for supporting.
NK and SS: Writing—original draft, Investigation, Writing—review & editing. RK: Writing—original draft, Investigation, Writing—review & editing, Conceptualization, Supervision, Validation. All authors read and approved the submitted version.
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
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