Propentofylline

Propentofylline is a xanthine derivative and phosphodiesterase inhibitor with purported neuroprotective effects. It inhibits both phosphodiesterase and adenosine uptake. Phosphodiesterase has shown to associated with age-related memory impairment and Alzheimer's disease. β-Amyloid protein 1–42 (β42) can induce apoptosis in the cultured hippocampal neurons, suggesting that it plays an important role in causing neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease. Propentofylline is also capable of activating a cAMP–PKA system, depressing the caspase cascade and modifying Bcl-2 family proteins. Propentofylline blocked both the apoptotic features induced by β42 and further induced an anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2. It suggests that the protection of propentofylline on the β42-induced neurotoxicity is caused by enhancing anti-apoptotic action through cAMP–PKA system.