Fármacos multifuncionais: monoamina oxidase e α-sinucleína como alvos terapêuticos na doença de Parkinson

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated to selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons caused by an intricate relationship among dopamine metabolism, oxidative stress and α-synuclein fibrillation. Most therapies for PD have focused on dopamine replacement through the use of both monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and dopamine precursor L-dopa. Interestingly, certain MAOIs have a broad spectrum of action including anti-fibrillogenic properties in α-synuclein aggregation. Herein we revisit the chemical properties of MAOIs and their action on important targets associated with PD, notably α-synuclein fibrillation and dopamine metabolism, discussing the strategies associated with the development of multi-target drugs for neurodegenerative diseases.