The Effects of Rifampicin on Neuronal Survival

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the formation of insoluble aggregates of misfolded proteins in the central nervous system. The β-amyloid protein in Alzheimer's disease and α-synuclein formation in Parkinson's disease (PD) may be given as examples. In addition to α-synuclein accumulation in Parkinson's disease, mechanisms such as oxidative stress, dysfunction of mitochondria, inflammation response, and apoptosis are known to be involved in the disease process. Since the mechanisms underlying these diseases are partially known, the drugs developed are intended to slow the disease process rather than cure them. Rifampicin is an antibiotic commonly used in humans and known to easily penetrate into the brain after oral intake. Studies have shown that rifampicin suppresses mitochondrial oxidative stress, eliminates α-synuclein fibrils and inhibits inflammation in in vitro and in vivo disease models. In this study, we reviewed recent studies on the neuronal protection of rifampicin and the effects of rifampicin on the pathophysiological mechanisms of PD.