Abstract
Minocycline, an antibiotic of the tetracycline family, has been shown to display neurorestoractive or neuroprotective properties in various models of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, it has been shown to delay motor alterations, inflammation and apoptosis in models of Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. Despite controversies about its efficacy, the relative safety and tolerability of minocycline have led to the launching of various clinical trials. Previously, we reported the antipsychotic effects of minocycline in patients with schizophrenia. In a pilot investigation, we administered minocycline as an open-label adjunct to antipsychotic medication to patients with schizophrenia. The results of this trial suggested that minocycline might be a safe and effective adjunct to antipsychotic medications, and that augmentation with minocycline may prove to be a viable strategy for “boosting” antipsychotic efficacy and for treating schizophrenia. Recently, in randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials, the addition of minocycline to treatment as usual early in the course of schizophrenia predominantly improves negative symptoms. The present review summarizes the available data supporting the clinical testing of minocycline for patients with schizophrenia. In addition, we extend our discussion to the potential applications of minocycline for combining this treatment with cellular and molecular therapy.
Highlights
There is a dramatic need of neuroprotective treatments for neurodegenerative disorders
Hippocampal neurogenesis, a process that continutes in the adult brain, was impaired by microglial activation caused by lipopolysaccharide infusion into the brain, and this difient neurogenesis was restored by the systemic administration of minocycline in association with reduced microglial activation [19]
Chaudhry et al [6] investigated whether the addition of minocycline to treatment as usual (TAU) for 1 year in early psychosis would reduce negative symptoms compared with placebo
Summary
There is a dramatic need of neuroprotective treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. Recent experimental evidence from in vitro and in vivo models of degeneration points out that minocycline could have beneficial properties independent of their initial antibactericid effects [1]. This is of high interest because these molecules have been clinically well known and have a long history of safe use. Schizophrenia is a complex disorder characterized by profound disturbances of perception, cognition, emotion and social function. The treatment of patients suffering from schizophrenia who experience minimal or no response to adequate doses of antipsychotics represents an enomous challenge to clinicians. Based on recent experimental and clinical data, we review the preclinical and clinical potential of minocycline in schizophrenia
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