Cell models for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease : at the interface of biology and drug discovery

Cetin, Sandra (author), Knez, Damijan (author), Gobec, Stanislav (author), Kos, Janko (author), Pišlar, Anja (author)

Neurodegenerative diseases are severely debilitating conditions characterized primarily by progressive neuronal loss and impairment of the nervous system. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases are the most common neurodegenerative disorders, and their impact is increasing as average life expectancy increases worldwide. Although the underlying mechanisms of both progressive diseases have been extensively studied, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of the molecular basis of both diseases. Current therapeutic options do not slow the progression of the diseases and only provide symptom relief. Cell models that resemble the characteristics of the disease in question are important in drug discovery projects because they provide information about the therapeutic benefits of drugs under development. Here, we review current in vitro cell models used to study the molecular basis of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease focusing on their potential for discovering of disease-modifying therapeutics to combat neurodegenerative diseases. We discuss phenotypic screening as an important approach for identifying novel therapeutic molecules. Advances in the development of cell-based assays for drug discovery are discussed, ranging from simple monoculture cell models to high-throughput three-dimensional cell models. Finally, we critically present the limitations of cell models and the caveats encountered in drug discovery to find effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Language: English
• Keywords: neurodegenerative diseases, cell models, cytotoxicity assays, drug discovery, drug screening
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: 11 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 149, art. 112924
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-139099
• UDC: 615.4:54:616.831-003.8
• ISSN on article: 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112924
• COBISS.SI-ID: 105487619
• Publication date in RUL: 30.08.2022

CETIN, Sandra, KNEZ, Damijan, GOBEC, Stanislav, KOS, Janko and PIŠLAR, Anja, 2022, Cell models for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease : at the interface of biology and drug discovery. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy [online]. 2022. Vol. 149,  112924. [Accessed 10 October 2025]. DOI 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112924. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=139099

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1950-6007
• COBISS.SI-ID: 23136261

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Description: The most restrictive Creative Commons license. This only allows people to download and share the work for no commercial gain and for no other purposes.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: nevrodegenerativne bolezni, celični modeli, preskusi citotoksičnosti, odkrivanje zdravil, Alzheimerjeva bolezen, Parkinsonova bolezen, farmacevtska kemija