Application of Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid for Treatment of Neurological and Non-neurological Diseases: Is There a Potential for Treating Traumatic Brain Injury?

Kyle R. Gronbeck, Cecilia M.P. Rodrigues, Javad Mahmoudi, Eric M. Bershad, Geoffrey Ling, Salam P. Bachour, Afshin A. Divani

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

The objective of this review was to evaluate the potential of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) for neuroprotection in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients in the neurocritical care setting. Specifically, we surveyed preclinical studies describing the neuroprotective and systemic effects of TUDCA, and the potential therapeutic application of TUDCA. Preclinical studies have provided promising data supporting its use in neurological disease characterized by apoptosis-induced neuronal loss. TUDCA inhibits multiple proteins involved in apoptosis and upregulates cell survival pathways. In addition, TUDCA exhibits anti-inflammatory effects in models of neuroinflammation and attenuates neuronal loss in chronic neurodegenerative diseases. This may be applicable to TBI, which also triggers inflammatory and apoptotic processes. Additionally, preliminary data support the use of pharmacological therapies that reduce apoptosis and inflammation associated with TBI. The anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of TUDCA could prove promising in the treatment of TBI. Currently, there are no published data supporting improvement in clinical outcomes of TBI by treatment with TUDCA, but future studies should be considered.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)153-166
Number of pages14
JournalNeurocritical care
Volume25
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Apoptosis
  • Blast injury
  • Edema
  • Intracerebral hemorrhage
  • Intracranial pressure
  • Neuroinflammation
  • Neuroprotection
  • Stroke
  • Tauroursodeoxycholic acid
  • Traumatic brain injury

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
  • Clinical Neurology

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