From:  Dimeric dipeptide mimetics of neurotrophins as molecular tools and potential neuroprotective drugs

Neuroprotective efficacy of NGF, BDNF, and NT-3 dipeptide mimetics in a rat model of ischemic stroke induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion

Parent neurotrophinCodeNeurotrophin loopThreshold dose (mg/kg, ip)Activation of post-receptor signaling cascadesReduction in brain infarct volume (%)
PI3K/AktMAPK/ERKPLC-γ1
NGFGK-2 [46]40.5++ns++60
GK-6 [46]1Not active+++ns
GTS-115 [46]31.0++++25
BDNFGSB-106 [38]40.1+++++60
GSB-214 [38]10.1+ns++30
GTS-201 [46]2Not activens+++ns
NT-3GTS-3014Not activens++++ns
GTS-3021.0+++++40
Return to article view

ip: intraperitoneally; NGF: nerve growth factor; BDNF: brain-derived neurotrophic factor; NT-3: neurotrophin-3; MAPK/ERK: mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase; PLC-γ1: phospholipase C-gamma; GK-2: bis-(monosuccinyl-L-glutamyl-L-lysine) hexamethylenediamide; GK-6: bis-(N-aminocaproyl-glycyl-L-lysine) hexamethylenediamide; GTS-115: bis-(N-gamma-oxybutyryl-L-lysyl-L-histidine) hexamethylenediamide; GSB-106: bis-(N-monosuccinyl-L-seryl-L-lysine) hexamethylenediamide; GSB-214: bis-(N-monosuccinyl-L-methionyl-L-serine) heptamethylenediamide; GTS-201: bis-(N-hexanoyl-L-seryl-L-lysine) hexamethylenediamide; GTS-301: bis-(N-monosuccinyl-L-asparaginyl-L-asparagine) hexamethylenediamide; GTS-302: bis-(N-gamma-oxybutyryl-L-glutamyl-L-asparagine) hexamethylenediamide; +: the effect is inferior to the full-length neurotrophin in terms of intensity and/or duration; ++: the effect is comparable to the full-length neurotrophin in terms of intensity and duration; ns: non-significant. All effects not labeled as “ns” are statistically significant. The data on the reduction in brain infarct volume are presented as means. The reference drug Mexidol (100.0 mg/kg, ip), reduced brain infarct volume by 40% in the same experimental protocol