Quinpramine--a promising compound for treating immune-mediated demyelination of the nervous system.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Different therapeutic options are available, but all require parenteral application and some expose patients to potentially lethal adverse effects. The response to treatment remains variable and often incomplete. Thus, the search for novel therapeutic agents is ongoing and relevant. The chimeric compound quinpramine-generated from its precursor substances imipramine and quinacrine-has recently demonstrated clinical efficacy in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for MS. Mechanistic considerations and recent experimental data suggest that intracellular redistribution of antigen-presenting molecules and cholesterol-rich membrane domains may account for the clinical efficacy of this drug. This article summarizes available treatment options in MS and explains why the candidate compound quinpramine may transfer from bench to bedside in the near future.

• Authors: Gerd Meyer zu Hörste, Anne K Mausberg, Carsten Korth, Olaf Stüve, Bernd C Kieseier
• Journal: Drug news & perspectives (Drug News Perspect) Vol. 23 Issue 5 Pg. 287-94 (Jun 2010) ISSN: 0214-0934 [Print] United States
• PMID: 20603652 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright (c) 2010 Prous Science, S.A.U. or its licensors. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Acridines
• Benzylamines
• Prions
• quinpramine

Topics

• Acridines (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Animals
• Benzylamines (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental (immunology, therapy)
• Hereditary Central Nervous System Demyelinating Diseases (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Multiple Sclerosis (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Prions (physiology)