Antihelminthic benzimidazoles are novel HIF activators that prevent oxidative neuronal death via binding to tubulin
Academic Article
Overview
MeSH Major
Anthelmintics
Benzimidazoles
Hippocampus
Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
Neurons
Tubulin
abstract
These studies demonstrate that tubulin-binding drugs can activate a component of the hypoxic adaptive response, specifically the stabilization of HIF-1α and its downstream targets. Tubulin-binding drugs, including antihelminthic benzimidazoles, also abrogate oxidative neuronal death in primary neurons. Given their safety in humans and known ability to penetrate into the central nervous system, antihelminthic benzimidazoles may be considered viable candidates for treating diseases associated with oxidative neuronal death, including stroke.