Amine Oxidase Inhibitors and Development of Neuroprotective Drugs

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors continue to be used for treatment of a number of psychiatric and neurologic disorders. In recent years, inhibitors of MAO and other amine oxidases have received considerable attention because of their neuroprotective and neurorescue effects in such models as oxygen-glucose deprivation in vitro, thiamine deficiency, NMDA-instigated excitotoxicity, free radical-mediated oxidative stress, cerebral ischemia, and experimental models of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases. This review focuses on the MAO inhibitors l-deprenyl, tranylcypromine and phenelzine and the possible mechanisms underlying their neuroprotective actions. In addition, there is a discussion of analogs of phenelzine and l-deprenyl as inhibitors of other amine oxidases, including semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO), and their possible involvement in neuroprotection.