Tackling dipeptidyl peptidase IV in neurological disorders

• Published in: Neural regeneration research Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 26 - 34
• Main Authors: Al-Badri, Ghaith, Leggio, Gian, Musumeci, Giuseppe, Marzagalli, Rubina, Drago, Filippo, Castorina, Alessandro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.01.2018; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Discipline of Anatomy and Histology, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia%Section of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy%Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy%School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Adenosine; Apoptosis; Berberine; Bioavailability; Care and treatment; Chemokines; Cytokines; Development and progression; Diabetes; Enzymes; Health aspects; Invited Review; Kinases; Nervous system diseases; neurodegeneration; inflammation; immune system; insulin; diabetes; alkaloids; berberine; Neurological disorders; Neuropeptides; Physiological aspects; Plant extracts; Polypeptides; Proteases; Proteins; insulin; inflammation; alkaloids; immune system; neurodegeneration; diabetes; berberine
• ISSN: 1673-5374; 1876-7958
• DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.224365

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) is a serine protease best known for its role in inactivating glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP), three stimulators of pancreatic insulin secretion with beneficial effects on glucose disposal. Owing to the relationship between DPP-IV and these peptides, inhibition of DPP-IV enzyme activity is considered as an attractive treatment option for diabetic patients. Nonetheless, increasing studies support the idea that DPP-IV might also be involved in the development of neurological disorders with a neuroinflammatory component, potentially through its non-incretin activities on immune cells. In this review article, we aim at highlighting recent literature describing the therapeutic value of DPP-IV inhibitors for the treatment of such neurological conditions. Finally, we will illustrate some of the promising results obtained using berberine, a plant extract with potent inhibitory activity on DPP-IV.