Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors and Their Therapeutic Application for Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons, leading to a decline in dopamine levels and the manifestation of motor and non-motor symptoms.The current treatments primarily focus on symptom management, leaving the need for disease-modifying therapies unmet.Emerging research has shown that neuroinflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and progression of PD.Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, originally developed for diabetes treatment, represent a novel avenue of investigation in the context of PD treatment.Beyond their established role in glycemic control, DPP-4 inhibitors have shown promise in modulating inflammatory responses within the central nervous system.This indicates their potential application in controlling neuroinflammation in PD, which in turn, could impact disease progression and neurodegeneration.This review summarized the current understanding of the role of DPP-4 inhibitors in neuroinflammation and their potential to modulate PD progression.Understanding the intricate interplay between neuroinflammation and dopaminergic neuron degeneration could pave the way for a new era of disease-modifying strategies, and DPP-4 inhibitors could offer a potential avenue to address both inflammation and neurodegeneration in PD.