Tachykinins: The Key Players in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Tachykinins (TKs) are a family of neuropeptides widely distributed in the whole body, especially in the nervous system. Several piecesof evidence suggest that TKs could exhibit both neuroprotective and neurodegenerative properties in the central nervous system (CNS) and spinal cord. It is also now well established from a variety of studies that substance P (SP), as a pioneering neuropeptide of the TK family, is involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders (NDs), such as Alzheimer disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’sdisease, Huntington’s disease, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, there is a huge amount of conflicting information about the level of SP in NDs that propose SP and its receptors might be prognostic or diagnostic factors for NDs. Conclusion: The presentreview article summarizes the roles of TKs in common neurodegenerative disorders.